Made For Each Other

Chapter Three

Their journey to Hogwarts was uneventful. After settling down in the compartments, prefects, headed towards the head girl and head boy compartment, for their duties. They met Draco there. Draco and Hermione were always very strict when it came to duties and rules. Being head girl and head boy suited both of them very well. Ron and Harry always thought Hermione had the right amount of bossiness to fit the profile of head girl even though she threw caution to the wind when she was around them.

Sometimes Ginny wondered whether Draco was born a leader or whether he had acquired that quality with time, or inherited it from his father? She wondered the same things about Harry, but there was a clear difference in the way they both assumed their leadership. Harry was charming; he had a magnetic personality. His nature was passionate and down to earth; people followed him of their own free will. Draco, on the other hand, was diplomatic and clever. A con artist, and an actor. The whole world was his stage where he played by his own rules. His intense grey eyes had something in them that compelled people to believe him, intimidated them.

Ginny was tired. Working late nights to complete her potions in her room when the entire house went to sleep meant she couldn't catch much sleep. Now, she wanted to take a nap, desperately. After patrolling in compartments, she ate her lunch, sealed herself in a compartment, and went to sleep, and woke only when Hermione came to tell her that they were almost at Hogsmeade and she must change into her robes. After changing into her school robes, she stepped out of the compartment.

"Did you have a good sleep Gin?" Harry came out of another compartment and smiled at her.

"Oh! Yeah it feels good and refreshing; I can't believe I was so tired and hungry..." she smiled when her stomach rumbled. Harry laughed and gave her some chocolate.

"Me too".

Both were standing in the corridor, leaning beside of the compartment wall.

"I am surprised no one came to wake me up earlier."

"Well! Draco was getting bored, and was about to going to wake you, but you know Ron..." Harry left the sentence in the middle. "He warned Draco to leave you alone and you know Draco. He turned on Ron and started arguing and then all of sudden, I am still not sure how, the conversation turned on Blaise and the rest as they say is history," he ended with a sigh. "Hermione and I tried our best to calm the two of them down. Hermione even threatened Draco, that if he came near the compartment; she would take points from the Slytherin," Harry told her with an amused grin, and his grin grew wider, when he told her, that Draco was so angry with Ron and Hermione that he accused them of spoiling Ginny.

"Really? " Ginny asked him with wide grin as Harry nodded.

Harry and Ron were Hermione's best friends but she was also very close to Ginny.

"Hermione is such a sweet heart," she said delightedly. "And Ron such an idiot. Seriously, he is so easy to manipulate. Malfoy such a prat, and Blaise is such a good girl, and wasting her time on a fool," Ginny sighed sadly.

"And you are such an observer," Harry added, smiling.

"Where are Hermione and Ron by the way?" Ginny asked him curiously, sharing the chocolate.

"They just left for the prefects duties, arguing as usual, which I suppose you have to do too, don't you?" Harry asked her stuffing a big piece of chocolate in his mouth.

"Yeah well! Both of them do quite well without me, so I think I can take a break," Ginny smiled.

"I am not talking about arguing, you know that! I am talking about prefect duties," he laughed. She took the chocolate wrapper from his hands crushed it in her fist, and tossed into nearby dustbin and turned to him.

"Did you see Blaise anywhere?"

"Yeah! Once, Ron came in a while before with her and she said something to Ron. He got angry with her and she pissed off and went some where, Draco gave Ron very colourful threats" Harry told her with a sigh.

"Harry, I wanted to talk to you about Ron. What is wrong with him? Blaise is a good girl, and that git of my brother likes her too. Although, they are not an official couple and he hasn't asked her out yet it's obvious that they like each other. Don't you think?" she trailed of and heaved a long sigh while shoving a piece in her mouth hastily as if about to chew Ron or Draco alive. "He will talk to you...you know 'boy trouble'. Will you try to put some sense in his fat brain?" she asked with a frown. "And while you are at it, you should think about yourself." She poked her finger in his upper arm in a gesture that for some reason reminded him of Molly Weasley, "I think it is about time you got yourself a girlfriend too."

"And who that would be?" Harry asked her, smiling.

"For God's sake Harry there are thousands of girls in Hogwarts dying to go out with you." Ginny frowned at him, "Find some one nice, umm... not some one like Cho... but someone nice... you know... Someone who will understand you. Someone you don't have to spend all the time offering tissues to, while she tells you about her ex-boyfriend. Some one nice..." she trailed off, stopped, and looked at Harry when she heard him chuckling.

"What's so funny," she arched an eyebrow and asked indignantly. Harry looked at her, amazed at how Draco-like the gesture was.

"Nothing, I was trying to remember where I have heard this before... umm..." he tapped his finger thoughtfully on his chin, while staring into space. "Oh yeah! Hermione! Yes Hermione, had given me the same kind of speech... Have you two been practicing for this or do you have some script kind of thing written about my love life?" he asked innocently.

"We care about you, you idiot or has this never occurred to you before. Hermione cares about you," she glared at him putting her both hands on her hips, when he started snickering again. "Stop it Harry."

"Ok...Ok, I'll talk to Ron and I'll think about myself too. Happy?" He held up both hands in surrender and smiled at her.

"By the way, if you're suggesting that I get a girlfriend, then you surely must have a girl in mind too, don't you?" Harry raised his dark eyebrow at her.

"Maybe I know some one good for you, but you have to use your mind and eyes," she leaned against the wall again.

"Really? Who?" Harry asked, his interest piqued.

"Oh Harry! How can you be so naïve? You are so blind," she shook her head in dismay. Harry frowned at her.

"What's that supposed to mean? I have dated Cho; you know that, you just said it. And after that you know I was so busy, we all were so busy in that prophecy and all that stuff, that dating was the least of my worries. You of all people know that better than anyone else. Then how can you accuse me of being blind? Ron never going on dates either and neither do Draco and Hermione. But I am the only one being hauled up for fighting the war of my life instead of dating," he said fuming, his hands folded over his broad chest.

Ginny smiled at his angry face, and tried to slip her hands under his. He frowned at her again, but let her hands slip through. He always loved it when she did that. Her warm smiling face and soft brown eyes melted his temper in seconds. Harry loved her so much; he loved the fact that he finally had a sister. It was the next best thing that had ever happened to him in his entire life after he found out that Sirius was his godfather and his parents' best friend. He had often wished for a brother or a sister, which was probably why the Burrow, always full of smiling faces and bickering Weasleys made him feel so at home. However, he never tried to be Ginny's big brother. Knowing her temper and stubborn independence, he always tried to be her friend more than a brother. That was probably why she was so close to him and actually listened to him.

"You didn't listen to a word that I said? Think about it Harry, how many people are there who really know you, and how many of them are girls?" she asked him. Harry tried to ignore her question. "Harry," she shook him.

"Okay okay, I am thinking. Don't break my shoulder." She smiled at him sweetly and waited watching the wheels turn in Harry's brain and his eyes take on the faraway look of someone deep in thought.

Cho was the first girl I ever asked out. However, that doesn't count since that was the only once time. She didn't know me at all. However, she did want to make up again. Which wouldn't have worked out at all. Luna... Luna. No way! The only people who know me really well are Ron, Draco, Ginny and Hermione. Ron and Draco don't count, which leaves me with Ginny and Hermione. Ginny is my sister, which leaves just one person and that is Hermione.

"The only girls who know me well enough are you and..." he trailed off. Ginny bit her lips hard to suppress her laughter on seeing the look on Harry's face, when the realisation hit him.

"You ...you don't mean Hermione? Do you?" he asked horrified, snatching his hands out.

"What do you want to hear?"

"Oh no, you don't mean that. You can't mean that."

"And why not?" Ginny asked soberly. "Oh God! Boys! I knew this was not going to be easy but..."

"Don't you remember what happened with Ron and Hermione back in our fourth year? They went out and they couldn't make it last because best friends don't make a good couple. Besides, I have never thought of Hermione in that way," Harry finished with a glare.

"Harry, don't be ridiculous. Of course best friends can make a good couple. It is just a question of two people who are meant to be together. Ron and Hermione have totally different personalities, which is fine for best friends." She quickly placed her finger on his lips to keep him quite before he could say something. "That was nothing Harry, it was just a trap of time, it was only a teen age boy's first crush on his best friend, just like you had for Cho. That meant nothing. Besides your relationship is going to be different from theirs. You and Hermione don't fight all the time like they did."

Harry ran his hand impatiently through his hair and started pacing in front of her. "Ginny, you have no idea what are you talking about. What would she think about me? I am her best friend? How can I think something like that about Hermione?" he mumbled while pacing.

"You know, you are right. She is your best friend. Let's just keep it that way. You keep your eyes closed and stuff you ear with beeswax. And I will cheer Victor Krum all the way to the finish line when he proposes to Hermione. I'll even help pick out the wedding dress," Ginny bluffed, all the while silently praying that Hermione should never find out the details of this conversation.

"Victor proposed to Hermione?" Harry asked suddenly, his green eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Ginny looked at him pointedly, "No Harry, not yet. But he might, someday. Or some other guy might. She is smart, pretty and intelligent. Everything any boy could wish for, don't you think? Oh wait, I forgot, YOU DON'T THINK OF HER THAT WAY!"

Harry leaned back against the wall with a sigh of relief. "Ginny, you are evil!" Harry remembered his conversation with Krum back in fourth year, when he had asked Harry if there was something going on between Hermione and he. Harry began to understand how Ron had felt when Hermione had gone to the ball with Krum. "You know it's hard thinking of her this way."

"I know, but not impossible. Just don't push it too hard, and don't be so hard on yourself."

"Ginny..." His warning tone and pink colour brought a smile on her face.

"You are such a sweet heart and you are perfect for each other, and I want you to be happy, both of you."

"I don't know Ginny," Harry said sounding unsure.

"Have you been in Bulgaria before Harry?"

"No, why?" he asked her with surprise

"No reason. You can come with me when I go to visit Hermione and Krum after the wedding."

"GINNY."

She laughed at his outrage. "Harry, I was joking. Maybe they will prefer living in London."

"I am not talking to you anymore Gin. Don't talk to me."

"Oh stop it Harry. What are you, twelve? Come on." She shoved him with her shoulder.

Harry watched her out of the corner of his eye, twinkling eyes, and pink face, and he couldn't take it any more and smiled with her.

"You are an evil witch. Do you think it will work?"

"Positive," she answered him with a smile and kissed him on the cheek. "You are going to be great together. I know it."

"I'll...I'll think about it."

"Good enough for me."

Both stood there in silence before Harry pulled her braid, "Thank you Gin."

"Hey... This is not what sisters are for, you know," she protested. "And is this how you thank you someone?"

"I can boss you around too," Harry replied with a grin.

"Huh... Potter, only in your dreams."

He laughed and kissed her on forehead. "No one can win with you Gin."

" Well... I won't bet on that Potter, I am still alive. " Their conversation was interrupted by Draco and others.

They both turned to look at Draco, who looked a little annoyed. He was followed by Ron who appeared at the other end of the corridor with Hermione and Blaise. Blaise looked as miserable as Ron and they were both clearly ignoring each other. Harry looked at Hermione, as though he was seeing her for the first time, and found himself spellbound by her understated beauty. Harry's mouth went dry and he tensed beside Ginny. Ginny squeezed his hand softly with a soft smile. He smiled in return, and greeted them.

"Did you sleep well Gin?" Blaise asked her with a warm smile.

"Yeah, very good."

"What's going on?"

"Nothing, just... nothing," Harry smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

"Ok, I will take that as an I-don't-want-to-talk-about-it-right-now. So maybe later then?" Ron said when the Hogwarts express stopped with a jerk.

"Yeah later," Harry assured him.

"Anyway, thanks for pulling that," Draco smirked as he pointed at Ginny's long braid and winked at her.

In answer, Ginny squinted her eyes at him and mouthed him, "Rascal".

Ron glared at Draco who evenly returned the favour.

Harry rolled his eyes at both of them, and pulled Ginny with him into her compartment for her stuff, anxious to avoid another pointless argument. Hermione and Blaise followed suit with Ron and Draco.

They were greeted by a refreshing wind as they stepped out of the train. Ginny looked at the darkening ink blue sky, with scattered clouds and flocks of birds flying back to their nests. She felt just like them - free.

Ginny smiled at the familiar feeling of the place, "Welcome back Ginny," she whispered to herself and stepped forward. "Where is Hagrid?" she asked Hermione.

"I don't know."

"Maybe he's busy with new creatures," Ron answered.

Meanwhile Harry had found an empty carriage. Ginny eyed them sadly as they put their stuff inside. Unfortunately all of them and most of the school students could see the horses now.

After Ginny, Draco, Ron and Hermione, had dispensed with their duties, the carriages took them to the castle. Ron was complaining about how hungry he was and how slow the carriages were. Hermione gave him a lecture and now Ron sat scowling, quietly watching out of the window.

Ginny giggled and Ron glared at her.

Harry and Ron start talking about the coming year of Quidditch. Hermione was reading some book and Ginny sat quietly and watched the grounds.

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The Great hall was packed with students busy relating their adventures over the vacations to each other. But the noise died down once the Sorting hat sang its song. This year the hat sang a happy song about the bond between the four houses, which would become stronger in the coming years than ever before in the history of Hogwarts. Finally, the sorting ceremony started.

"Hey! Who do you reckon who will be the DADA teacher this year?" Ron asked, sitting across the table from Hermione, studying the teachers' table where, McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Sprout and Madam Pomfrey were sitting. Two seats were, however, empty.

"Probably Remus or maybe Moody," Hermione said absentmindedly. "I wonder whose seat is empty?" Hermione said. Harry glanced at the table and grimaced.

"Ugh! Snape is still here. There goes yet another year of my life."

"Don't be ridiculous Harry: he was not that bad last year now, was he?" Hermione asked him.

"Yeah well! No not that bad actually, he did his best to ignore me and that suited me fine," Harry smiled slightly.

During the sorting ceremony, Ginny lazily let her eyes roam around the Great Hall, which was full of students' happy faces. It was strange seeing so many students again in Hogwarts after the past two years when parents refused to send their children to school because of their fear of the Dark Lord and their lack of faith in Dumbledore.

There was an air of excitement in the Great Hall and everyone clapped whenever a new student was sorted into one of the houses. Ginny sat with Colin and Christina - her best friends - and joined in the fanfare with enthusiasm. Her eyes travelled to the Slytherin table and she smiled at Draco, who seemed absolutely bored by the sorting ceremony. Blaise was telling him something, in answer to which he was just nodding while glaring at Pansy.

Luna Lovegood sat at the Ravenclaw table seemingly unconcerned and looking into space as if she was there by mistake. Ginny smiled. She liked Luna. Even though every one thought her to be a little off, Luna was very good hearted and loving.

Her attention returned to the staff table when the sorting ceremony ended and Professor Dumbledore stood up to greet everyone.

"Welcome back to another year of Hogwarts. The forest is forbidden for all students. I am very pleased to announce that Professor Lupin has joined Hogwarts once again as the new DADA teacher but as he is not present here at the moment, I will receive his cheers on his behalf," Dumbledore said with twinkling eyes as the Great Hall rang out with applause and loud cheering. Professor Lupin was a very popular teacher, and even the Slytherins liked him. "Our other new member of staff is also not here but he will be joining us shortly with Hagrid. Please welcome Charlie Weasley, our new Care of Magical Creatures teacher." This time the noise was loudest from the Gryffindor table as the Weasley family broke out into loud cheering. The Headmaster smiled and waited for the noise to die down.

"Last year we could not complete our trip to the city of London for Muggle studies students, so this year a trip will be organised for the sixth and seventh year students." This last announcement was met by mixed reactions, the junior students proclaiming in annoyed voices that it was not fair. "That is all. Let the feast begin."

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Draco thanked God that the sorting ceremony was over. He was currently in the middle of the worst day of his life. The argument with Ron was hanging heavy on him, besides which Blaise was angry with him for having dragged her into his argument for no reason. And to top it all off, Pansy was not leaving him alone.

On hearing the announcement of the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher his attention had turned to the Gryffindor table where Ginny was jumping up and down with joy. Even though he knew how much Ginny loved her brothers, he scowled thinking how many of her family members would now be in Hogwarts, ready to pound him to a pulp at any attempts to tease her.

"Oh that's going to be a fun trip to the city." His attention turned to the girls at his own table. Pansy was already debating what to wear. Draco rolled his eyes, "Don't you girls have something else to worry about other than what to wear or how to impress the boys?"

"No, not really," Pansy said cheerfully. "You've changed Draco. Half the girls in school would kill themselves to impress you. You used to enjoy that. What happened to you?" Draco ignored Pansy's comments and looked away resolutely.

"What should I wear, Draco?" Pansy asked sweetly. Too sweetly, Draco decided.

"Why the hell you are asking me? I don't care what you do or don't wear one way or another," he retorted and glared at Blaise, who was snickering.

"Oh Draco! Do you want me to wear...?" she trailed off shyly, "You know I missed you too," Pansy leaned into him and purred in his ear.

"Bloody hell Parkinson! I didn't miss you." Draco swore as he pushed her away.

Pansy's eyes flashed with anger, and she looked hard at him and then at the Gryffindor table. "Oh! I know why are you doing this. It's that horrible Weasel. Mark my words Draco, she will never be yours and I will make sure of that. You're mine and I don't like to lose."

"Draco..." Blaise warned, but Draco already had Pansy's arm in a vice like grip and he turned her around to face him.

"That was the last time you'll say anything about Ginny. You so much as go near her and I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your pathetic life," he said through clenched teeth.

"My pathetic life?" she hissed back evenly. "What about you? Following the Gryffindors like a stray puppy begging for some crumbs. You're the one who's pathetic, Draco."

Blaise watched the change of expression on Draco's face warily. "Stupid girl can't keep her mouth shut," she said to herself.

Draco's watched Pansy through narrowed, storm-coloured eyes. Pansy stared back at him defiantly, but her defiance turned into a whimper as the grip on her arm tightened for a fraction of a second before Draco pushed her back into her seat.

"Stay out of my way Parkinson. I won't tell you again," Draco said as he sat back down.

"What?" he asked irritably when he felt Blaise's eyes on him. She just shook her head and sighed.

"Nothing."

Unaware of being watched by two pairs of eyes, which turned from him and Pansy towards the Gryffindor table, Draco faced Blaise with a smile.

"Oh, come on Blaise, you still aren't angry with me, are you?" Blaise merely arched one beautiful eyebrow at him in response. "Fine, I won't tease him," Draco grinned toothily. "He is just so easy to manipulate. Just say Ginny's name and he hits the roo..." Draco trailed off, the smile wiped off his face at the furious look in Blaise's eyes. He sighed and put his fork down. "I am just joking. I promise I won't drag Ginny in again. Ok?"

The expression on Blaise's face softened a bit. "It's not funny Draco, and especially for Ron. He won't stand being manipulated because of Ginny. And he is not Harry. Don't you dare do that again. He doesn't hate you anymore but he won't be very fond of you either if you drag Ginny in or interfere between us. If you think you are helping me, you are wrong. It will push Ron farther away from me. Don't involve Ginny in this. In fact don't involve your self in it at all. I don't need your help. I can deal with him by myself. Don't worry about me." She held up her hand to stop him from interrupting. "Just listen to me. Do you think Ginny won't be angry with you, when she finds out that you were threatening her brothers using her as bait? But you don't care for that, do you? Draco, I don't know what you plan to do with or to Ginny, but please don't hurt her. She deserves much much more than that. I couldn't have done it...put my life in your hands, but she did. Or rather you put her in a situation where she didn't have a choice. Either way, she trusted you. And the only reason she did that was for her family. The least you could do is respect that." By now tears had welled up in Blaise's eyes and she got up and ran out of the hall.

Draco stared after her; dumbfound, unable to understand, what had just happened. Obviously, he had not been expecting this. He had been prepared for totally Slytherin conversation...dangerous with some colourful swears thrown in with her unladylike self. Blaise was the only in Slytherin who could talk to him like that. He didn't have any other friends but Blaise filled the space just as well. However, this was different. He was not expecting a reaction like that. He knew she had grown as fond of Ginny as Hermione, and always took her side, but this was too much. Nevertheless, she was already gone. He swore under his breath and ran after her.

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"What the hell..." Ginny and Hermione looked up at the same time from their conversation on hearing Ron's surprised exclamation and looked towards the door where Draco was running after Blaise.

"Miss Weasley, a word with you please." She heard her head of house call her and she shared a concerned look with Hermione.

"You go, I'll find out" Hermione assured her and turned to the first year crowd. Ginny walked behind McGonagall wondering what had happened between Draco and Blaise.

If there was anyone Draco cared for after his mother, it was Blaise. Must be a misunderstanding, she concluded.

"Yes Professor?" They were in McGonagall's room.

"Sit please. Last year the circumstances were...you know. What have you decided about you career? Have you given it any serious thought yet?" McGonagall asked her.

"I am not sure, Professor," Ginny admitted reluctantly. "It was all so uncertain, I couldn't make up my mind. I don't want to be an Auror. Not that I don't like the job, but I don't want to spend all my life chasing the death eaters," she added hastily. "Don't want to be a healer either. I have seen enough blood to last a lifetime. I don't think I can bear anymore. I am good at Potions. May be potion maker. However, if you ask me...I want to do something different." She finished reluctantly.

"Do tell me about it," Professor McGonagall asked with interest.

Ginny shifted in her seat and looked at her professor uncertainly. Professor McGonagall could see Ginny debating whether or not to tell her.

"You know Miss Weasley, it's an important decision. I can understand your hesitation. So many students are unsure of what they want to do after school. Any thing you tell me shall stay between us.

"Yes I know and thank you. I appreciate your patience too, it's...just...you won't laugh at me, will you?"

"No of course not! What ever you decide, it's your decision and I will respect that."

"Ok then! I...I always wanted to be a magical creatures healer. There, I said it." She watched her professor intently for a reaction, but to her great relief, McGonagall smiled softly.

"Well I was certainly not expecting this. Don't get me wrong. Not that this is a bad idea, and profession. But..." Professor McGonagall sighed. "It's just...you are such a talented student, your skills are magnificent, and it is not just I, but even the headmaster and Professor Snape think so too. You are working on such an important project and if you are able to find a cure for werewolf bite..." she trailed off. "We all have great hopes from you Ginny, and I know it would be selfishness to ask you to change your decision about your future, but still I will ask you to think about it again. Now, the other thing I wanted to discuss with you is, Mr. Robins." Knowing the immediate question Ginny would ask, she continued, "He is fine. You needn't worry about anything." Ginny relaxed but attentively waited for the Professor to continue.

"Although, Professor Snape will give you all the information regarding this assignment, for now as head of Gryffindor house I have to inform you, that there is a conference for healers in few months. The date is not confirmed yet, but we will inform you as soon as we know anything. The potions incharge at St. Mungo's recommended your name. It is an honour for us that one of our students and more importantly someone your age was chosen to elaborate on your recent assignment."

"But Professor I didn't finish it," Ginny said miserably. "I couldn't find all the ingredients, I do not even know all of them yet. How can I elaborate on it in the conference?" Ginny sat there dazed by the news. She had been working so hard on this new potion, which was meant to be a cure for werewolf bite, but she hadn't found all the ingredients. They were very hard to find, and as time went by, she wondered more and more how long it would take for her to complete the potion.

"Aren't you happy, Ginny?" Professor McGonagall asked, slightly baffled by the young woman's silence.

"Oh, of course I am happy but what if I don't make any progress by the date of the conference?"

"I know, it's a hard and time consuming project. But we all believe in you. We know you can do it, and if at any point you need our help, we are here for you Ginny. All you need to do is ask."

Ginny's heart soared with delight on hearing McGonagall's words. She answered with a small smile, "Thank you professor. That's very kind of you. I'll try my best."

"Now, did you hear from Mr. Robins? How is he doing?"

"He is alright - miserable, disappointed and very angry with me but fine all the same. You know it's not easy for him and he is alone. I got his owl a few days before," Ginny told her.

"Yes I know. May be he could visit here sometime?" McGonagall suggested with a smile.

"Really? Can he come here? Would Professor Dumbledore allow him to visit me?" Ginny asked excitedly.

Her head of house smiled softly at her excitement and nodded, "Maybe. Now go to bed. It's late. Professor Snape will fill you in tomorrow."

Ginny thanked the professor and headed towards the Gryffindor tower. Her head was full of different thoughts - school, volunteer work for the hospital and this assignment. I need Hermione. And I have to send an owl to Robins first thing in the morning. The image of Mike Robins brought a smile on her face. She was walking in a trance, when some one cleared their throat in a dark spot of the corridor and she jumped in surprise.

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It was late. He was standing in the corridor nearby McGonagall's office, waiting for Ginny. He heard the familiar soft bells of Ginny's anklet, the harmony of the bells matched with his heartbeat. The sound always soothed his nerves and his mood. These sounds were a part of his memories and his present.

Ginny sometimes wondered how he knew where she would be all the time. She had even asked him once of he owned an invisibility cloak using which he followed her around, intent on his mission to scare her to death. He had laughed and given her a vague response which she hadn't bothered pursuing. Knowing him, he wouldn't have told her anyway.

He pulled himself away from the wall but didn't come out in the dark. He had already finished his patrolling in the corridors with Hermione and had decided to wait for Ginny in the corridor.

"It's about time. Any longer and I might have had to sue you for making me freeze my organs waiting for you."

She glared at him, "Who told you to wait for me anyway? I know my way to the dorm. What are you doing here? Don't you have first year students to scare and give detentions to, be generally nasty?" she asked before walking ahead. She knew he was dying to know what McGonagall had wanted to talk to her about, but ignored all his attempts to ask her.

He started walking with her, "Don't give me ideas."

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Oh please! Like you haven't done that before."

Draco ignored Ginny's remark. "What did McGonagall want?"

"Tell me what happened with Blaise?" she asked evenly.

"I asked first," Draco said, grabbing Ginny's wrist.

"I don't care whether you asked first or not. Answer my question if you want an answer to yours." Ginny freed her hand from his grip.

"Did you say something to Ron on the train to piss him off and now she has found out?"

Though he didn't answer her, his square shoulder and tense features told her that she was right. She sighed, and walked past him.

"Why do you feel that everyone's life is your business and you have to poke your nose in it?" Ginny asked him, when he looked away.

"Well! If he stops being such a weasel about things, I might be tempted to not interfere in his matters. And by the way my friend is also involved in this."

Ginny just glared him. "Ron is not like yo..." Ginny stopped short. "...that," she finished. "He will never hurt her, you know that. What have you done to make him so angry?"

"Why did you stop Ginny? Ron is not like me, isn't that what you were going to say?" Draco's silver eyes flashed with anger. He stopped in front of her blocking her way.

Ginny just stared at him, unable to talk for a moment. "You are unbelievable." Her mind was full of nasty things to say which she couldn't put into mere words. She silently walked past Draco, a frown creasing her brow.

"And irresistible too," he added while watching her with narrowed eyes. Ginny turned around, retort ready on her lips, but stopped. She was tired and she wanted to go to bed. Draco watched her as she closed her eyes and ran a hand through her already dishevelled hair. He felt the familiar rush of desire overwhelm his senses. She was the one looking irresistible. Her untied hair framing the soft lines of her face, her creamy skin glowing in the half light of the corridor, the light throwing the faded web of scars into relief, her charm bracelet hanging limp against her wrist, the dark brown mole on the left side of her neck just above the collarbone. It was all Draco could do to stop his hand from reaching out and touching it.

His mind was split in two - one part urging him to act on his desires and the other cautioning him against it.

Damn it, this is hard. I can't go on like day after day and not given in. She's the most beautiful girl I've ever laid my eyes on. How can I not want her? This is so damn hard...I...

Before he knew it, Draco had blocked her way by putting one hand across the wall in her way. He watched the expression on her face change from one of curiosity to one of slow simmering rage. He found himself immune to her rage, and yet somehow vulnerable in front of those dark chocolate eyes. He wondered if it was possible.

"Let me go Malfoy. I don't know why we are having this conversation anymore. You are wasting your time and mine."

"Maybe I like talking to you, and maybe I am not wasting my time," he said in his rich and persuasive voice. He put his head towards one side, looked her up and down and stepped towards her. Ginny immediately stepped back. She could argue with Draco Malfoy for hours but when his beautiful silver eyes started dancing with sparks of mischief in them she could not handle him. Those were the times when warning bells went off in her brain telling her to stay on her guard. She vowed to resist her traitorous desires, refusing to yield to his seductive appeal like every girl in the school. It troubled her that he could arouse such strong feelings in her. Despite, his flaws, he still seemed magnificent to her. Her anger, when she was brave enough to admit the truth to herself, was a way of keeping him at bay.

She felt goose bumps rising on her arms and her heart jumped to her throat. But she took a deep calming breath and said, "Oh! You are, I assure you. I don't want to be a pawn on your chessboard Draco. And don't look at me like that," she added warningly, pointing her finger at him, trying to control her erratic heartbeat.

"I am not playing with you Ginny" Draco said softly. "I care for you, don't you see that?"

"You have a funny way of showing that Malfoy. How stupid do you think I am that I will actually believe you?" she said coldly. "I am sure Ron has never done any thing comparable to what you have done to me Draco. I can give you a whole list of things. Hell, I have lost count, and here you are threatening him, judging him."

"He tried to kill me and Harry, remember that?" Draco asked lamely.

"You used me for crying out loud, their only sister," she said sharply. "You put this bloody pendent around my neck without asking me, not to mention the side effect of wearing it." She pulled the chain around her throat. Along with the chain, there was a beautiful crystal pendent, bigger and thicker than a Galleon. There was a dragon carved in the crystal. The only colour in the pendent came from the red eyes of the dragon. If looked at suddenly the pendent seemed to have a small dragon with blood red eyes trapped inside.

Draco arched his eyebrow and smirked. "Really, I thought you were not bothered by it's side effects. Does it offend you now?" he drawled lazily.

"Certainly not." But her cheeks turned pink and she squinted her eyes at him with clenched jaw and pushed him aside. "You have made me do things, that you wanted, things which I despised. You claimed me, in front of my whole family and ordered me around like a slave and humiliated me," she said angrily. "You have done so much even after that. For God's sake Draco, are you really that thick? Don't you have a heart? I don't deserve this, no body deserves this, but, here I am absorbing every thing you have thrown at me like a sponge, and you're still not satisfied. Do you think it's easy for Ron and Harry to accept all of this? Ron...he always blamed himself for things that you were responsible for. And you think it's funny to use me to mock him. How can be you so cruel? What kind of a friend are you? Just don't do it, promise me you won't do it again," she said tired.

Draco cringed at the look on her face. Her eyes red rimmed, her face pink with emotion. Draco mentally kicked himself for making her cry. He caught her by the wrist as she walked past him.

"I never meant to do those things to you Ginny. I...I...never wanted to harm you," he said softly, remorsefully.

She didn't turn to face him, but he felt her body tense. She tried to free her hand with a jerk, but he held on.

"Look at me Ginny,"

"Let go of me Malfoy. You must have some nerve to say that to me," Ginny said through clenched teeth. By this time they had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. "This is my house. What are you doing here? Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Ginny asked him with a certain amount of annoyance.

"Don't try and change the subject. Just listen to me, please. You know I didn't do it intentionally. Ok, ok...maybe once," he added hastily when he saw the rage bubbling in her eyes. "But I am not going to hurt you again. And I am not going any where or letting you go either until you believe me," he said stubbornly.

"This isn't magic Draco. It doesn't work that way. I can't just wipe off my memories and my past."

"You still don't trust me," Draco said in a flat voice.

"Bingo! You have a gift for seeing the obvious Malfoy," Ginny said dryly. She thought she saw a look of regret pass through Draco's face, but an instant later the shutters were back in place hiding his feelings from the rest of the world. There were times when Ginny wondered of Draco was anything but stone, if there was a soft core to him, one that felt pain and joy and sorrow and love. But however much she wanted to know the answer, she was not sure this was one of those times when the answer would help.

"Are you going to tell me password or not?" the Fat Lady cut in, even as the common room's door opened and an angry Hermione stepped out. Ginny freed her hand with a jerk and slipped through right away without a word. Hermione pulled Draco in and glared him.

"You're the Head boy. Do I have to remind you that? And Ginny, you're a prefect. Can't you two stop stepping on each other's toes once in a while for a change? To humour the rest of us, give us a break from your constant bickering." Hermione turned to Ginny, who was turning to go to her dorm. Ron and Harry were sitting near the fireplace, playing chess.

"What took you so long Ginny? Is everything alright?" Harry asked her as he and Ron made their way to where Hermione was standing with Draco.

"I was not fighting. He was standing there in the dark and scared me to death and then he followed me here. I was just telling him to go away and let us be, but nooo...! How could he have gone to sleep without torturing us?"

Harry chuckled on hearing Draco groan, but his smile dies when he saw Ron glaring at Draco. He pulled Ron and Ginny to the fireplace and sat down next to them.

"Grow up you two," Hermione said as she dragged Draco to the fireplace and sat down with him in front of the others.

"What took you so long Gin"? Harry asked her again.

"She's not telling, Harry. Don't bother. That's what I wanted to know but she refused to say anything."

"McGonagall wanted me to think over my decision about a career after Hogwarts," Ginny replied, immaturely sticking her tongue out at Draco's aghast face.

"And which is...?" Ron asked curiously.

"I haven't given it much thought really...I don't know yet. Oh...I am so confused," she answered putting her face in her both hands.

"Ok, we'll we talk about it later. It's already too late. I was waiting for you to tell the password to my room." Hermione unfolded the parchment in her hand, and at that moment, Ginny's head snapped up. She stood up urgently, interrupting Hermione.

"Err...I think I should go, I am tired, so...I'll see you tomorrow. Night all," she said urgently while backing off. Hermione stared at her for a while inquiringly and then she peeked in the parchment.

"Huh? Yeah I think you should go," she said trying hard not to laugh.

"Wait a minute, what's the rush?" Draco snatched the paper out of Hermione's hand. Hermione took a sharp breath and pushed Ginny to the door. Harry and Ron turned to look at Draco who was standing with the parchment in his hand, looking horrified.

"Ginny!" he yelled finally. "You did this. I swear I'll kill you. And how could you let her do this?" he asked Hermione angrily.

But Ginny was already in her dormitory. Ron and Harry were laughing so hard that they had tears in their eyes. Hermione was trying very hard not to laugh. Draco was furiously looking at them.

"Oh! My God Draco, Ginny got you there. I think she chose the perfect password for you, 'Blondie, mummy's boy'. See how much she cares about you. You will feel at home in your room, specially when Pansy uses this password to get to you." Ron was rolling on floor and Harry was wiping his eyes.

"Oh, come on Draco it's not so bad?" Hermione tried to calm him down.

"I will get her for this. Tell her that and you stop that Weasley. I was right on train. She won't get away with this I swear," he announced as he left the room.

"Shut up you guys. He is really angry. I told her not to mess with his password," Hermione said worriedly.

"Oh, come on Herms, he will be fine," Harry said to her before they all started laughing again.