Melting Ice

Ginny sat with Hermione at breakfast that morning, discussing a few points from the younger girl's History of Magic exam. Despite her own distraction with a certain Slytherin, Ginny couldn't help but notice how Hermione kept glancing at Harry and getting a bit of a silly grin on her face.

"Finally realized it, did he?" The redhead grinned as 'Mione jumped a bit and then smiled.

"Yeah, confessed it in the common room last night, not long after you'd headed up to your own room."

"I thought you both looked a bit more relaxed. And can't mistake those silly grins the pair of you have..."

"Speaking of silly grins, I take it someone finally got his head out of his arse?"

"Hades showed up last night, he admitted to being an insensitive git, but he did send another rose..."

The owls arrived then, grades appearing at the table as a few letters from home arrived. Ginny noticed Ron watching her rather closely and couldn't help but smile at Hades' preening before her. It was just a note this time, but the arrival of the owls reminded her that she needed to write to her mother and soon.

She answered the note, sent a smile across the room with it, and then headed up to the owlery, Hermione in tow, to send off a letter to her Mum before Ron could completely ruin everything.

Mum,

I realize you'll be rather upset with me for this, but I'm still coming to you before you can hear it from someone else. You already know that I've become friends with Draco Malfoy. Now that his father is in jail, he's really not all bad.

I know Ron hates him, as do Harry and Hermione, but even 'Mione says he's nicer to me than he's ever been. Anyways, we've become close. It's a bit strange to have a friend that wasn't friends with Ron or Harry or one of the other boys first. I know you and Dad don't trust Draco because of who his father is, but please, trust me.

Draco's asked me to the Yule Ball, and I've said yes, Mum. I really do like him. The professors all seem to think our friendship is a good thing. Please, don't listen to Ron's over-reacting about it, it's really just him being an over-protective git. If it wasn't Malfoy, he wouldn't care who I was with.

Love to you, and to Dad. Talk to you soon! - Ginny

Ginny quickly addressed the letter and sent it off with a school owl. The two girls then headed off to Hogsmeade, since it technically was the holidays.

When they reached the wizarding village, they headed straight for the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer. Finding a quiet table in the corner, the two girls continued talking about random events before heading out to do some Christmas shopping. Both had only one present left to buy, but it seemed to be the hardest one of all. Normally, Hermione had no questions about what to get Harry, but the recent changes in their relationship had her just a bit flummoxed. As for Ginny's dilemma, well, what could you get the wizard who has everything?

The few days passed quickly, letting the students blow off the stress from the past semester with snowball fights and other various past-times. The morning of the ball dawned clear and bright, and when they made their way to the hall for breakfast, they were surprised to see the tables for the ball already in place of the long house tables.

Dumbledore smiled as he looked at the astonished faces finding their way into the hall. It wasn't all of the students, but a good part of them, mostly those who'd gotten so into the habit of rising early that they did it even on the weekends.

"The rest of the staff and I thought perhaps letting you enjoy the smaller tables for the entire day would be a bit of a treat. No one has to sit with their house today, unless of course, they want to."

Ginny was sure he was looking right at her when he spoke that last part, his eyes twinkling fondly as he glanced out over the students beginning to find seats. She wasn't surprised to find a pale hand on her arm, green tinted robes brushing up against hers.

"Being able to actually eat meals together, aside from in the house kitchens could spoil us, you know..." She smiled as she spoke, her happiness at seeing him shining through the playfulness in her eyes.

Draco smiled and brushed a lock of her long, red hair from her face. The two could feel a few glares coming from both a handful of the Slytherins and a few of the Gryffindors as well. Neither paid them any attention as Draco led Ginny to a seat, sitting beside her and talking quietly. But more than a few of the onlookers noticed when Hermione and Harry approached, and most were shocked when the four spoke for a moment before Ginny gestured to the rest of the table and the other two sat down.

No one was sure what had been said, but before long, there was a civil conversation and some laughter, mostly female, bouncing around the table. After eating, Ginny glanced at Draco and then laid her hand on his arm.

"Shall we go for a walk?"

"Of course. I was just thinking of asking you..." Both smiled and then glanced to Harry and Hermione.

Ginny spoke first, "See you later, 'Mione? We are getting ready together, right?"

The older girl smiled. "Naturally. Have a nice walk, I think we're off to the library..." She would have continued, but she knew the other two were anxious to get out of the hall and away from the speculative glances.

Outside, all was quiet. Snow blanketed the grounds, making slight crunching sounds underneath the feet of the two students. They held hands without even realizing they were doing it, talking quietly about random things. Draco was the only one Ginny'd ever talked to about the events in her first year, he had apologized numerous times for his father's actions and wished he could have changed it for her.

When they reached the tree near where their friendship had begun, Draco pulled out his wand and conjured a blanket for them to sit on, making it impervious to the snow beneath them. Ginny took out her sketchpad and pencil and Draco removed his potions book, and the two sat, her red hair draping over his shoulder when she would look over at something he'd point out for her, his face brushing her cheek when he'd peek at her sketch.

They sat like that for a while, until Draco happened to glance at his watch. "What time are you supposed to meet Smarty?" He'd come along way, but he couldn't quite be completely nice where Hermione or any of the trio were concerned.

"Around 4. And do you think you could use her name for a change?" Ginny grinned. She knew he'd already made a lot of changes for her, she was merely teasing him.

"You'd best hurry then. It's just about that now. Meeting in the Entrance Hall, like last time?" Draco's one hand was busily searching his pockets as he spoke, looking for a small box he'd tucked in there.

"Of course. Safer than you waiting outside the common room. Or me trying to find your common room..." She smiled and stood, tucking her sketchpad back into her bookbag.

"True. Oh, before you go," Draco handed her the small box. "You wouldn't keep them after the last time, but I do want you to have them."

Ginny just smiled and kissed his cheek as he stood. "I'll wear them tonight. But I still don't feel comfortable keeping them. I'd feel awful if anything happened to them, Draco."

"We'll discuss it later. Go on now, you're going to be late. I'll expect to be dazzled later." Ginny grinned as he spoke, playfully smacking his arm before turning towards the castle.

It was barely half an hour before the ball when Hermione and Ginny were finishing up their preparations in the Head Girl's Room. Ginny was fixing the emerald earrings in her ear when there was a peck at the window. When Hermione opened it, one of the school owls flew in, waiting for Ginny to take the note off it's leg before heading back out and down to the Owlery.

"It's from Mum. At least, it's not a howler."

"Well, go on, Gin, read it."

Ginny opened the note and read it quickly, smiling before handing it over to Hermione.

Ginny,

Your father and I already know about your friendship with the Malfoy boy. After Ron mentioned it in an Owl, we wrote to Professor Dumbledore. And then Draco himself sent us a letter, assuring us that despite his past, he was not his father. Your brother loves you, even if he has a funny way of showing it. We do trust you to be careful, but you're sixteen now, you know enough to do that. And if anything happens, well, you have five very protective older brothers who'd be happy to hide a body.

Love, Mum.

P.S. Love to Hermione, Harry and Ron too.

The girls grinned and headed down to the common room. Ginny carried the note in her hand and as she walked past her brother, sprawled in an armchair where he waited for Lavendar, she dropped it on his lap.

"Mum sends her love." With a smile and a wave, she exited the common room, heading down to the Entrance Hall to meet Draco before it became too crowded.

He had no difficulty spotting her. She wasn't tall, but her hair was quite distinctive, standing out beautifully against her emerald green robes. She'd pulled it up into a loose, curled ponytail, just a few curls framing her face as her eyes searched anxiously for him. It was more than he could resist, his mischievous nature taking over as he slipped up behind her and gently lifted a curl, watching as it wrapped around his finger.

"And here I'd thought earlier that you couldn't get more beautiful, Little Weasel..." His playful whisper brought a smile to her face as she turned just enough to see his smile.

"Must be the ferret in you, the two are rather close you know..." Her eyes sparkled as she winked at him and turned fully around, looking up and down in approval. "You do clean up well, Malfoy. I'm impressed."

He smiled and offered her a silver rose, smiling as she tucked it into her hair. Offering his arm, they started to step forward when Professor Snape approached.

"Good evening, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Weasley." His normally sour expression was unchanged, but Ginny was sure she saw a hint of a smile in the dour Potions Master's face.

"Good evening, Professor." They both spoke in unison, bringing a grin to each face as they glanced to each other before looking back at Snape. There was definitely a new expression in their teacher's face as he watched the two of them.

"Miss Weasley, I'm quite impressed by your dramatic improvement in Potions. Well done."

"Thank you, sir. I have an excellent tutor." Ginny smiled up at Draco before returning her gaze to Professor Snape.

"She's really quite good with them, Professor. She grasps things quickly, she just doesn't always realize she does."

"Quite so. Enjoy your evening, both of you." As the professor turned and walked off, his black cape flowing behind him, Ginny looked up at Draco.

"I do believe you're the first Gryffindor he's actually been nice to, Virginia. Quite an accomplishment..." He smiled into her eyes and placed his hand over hers on his arm before escorting her to the doors of the Great Hall. "Shall we?"