Pursuing Bliss

You can call it anything you want

But the fact remains the same

I never got to be your Fred Astaire

You can lie to yourself and all your friends

Pretend that you don't care

But circumstance gets in the way

Hermione pressed her lips softly against Ron's, snuggling gently into his embrace. "Owl me as soon as you get home," she instructed quietly. Ron nodded, kissing her forehead.

"I'll find out about our holiday to the beach and let you know when it'll be," he promised, nudging her towards where her parents were waiting. "Go on, then. Have a good trip." Hermione smiled, drawing him in for a final kiss before turning to greet her parents. Ron watched as her mother and father gathered her into a tight hug, raising his hand in a farewell wave.

"Have you bloody well asked yet?" Harry enquired from behind him. Ron only shook his head, fingering the velvet box in his pocket. Harry snorted and clapped him on the shoulder. "C'mon. Let's go. You'll see her in a while."

"I guess..." Ron sent a final glance at the spot where Hermione and her family had disappeared before following Harry to where his mother and father waited for Ginny. She appeared not a moment later, pushed in a Muggle wheelchair by Madame Pomfrey and complaining the whole way that she could walk just fine, thank you very much.

"Now Ginny, you must give your body time to fully recover. Just because you've finished taking the potion doesn't mean you're healed," Madam Pomfrey scolded. Ginny sulked, but she nodded, smacking Ron's arm.

"Take me to say goodbye to Draco while we're waiting for my things," she requested, giving him the puppy dog eyes. Ron opened his mouth to object, but Mrs. Weasley interrupted.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea. Why don't you go with, Harry, dear? We'll load everything onto trolleys and come get you when we're ready to go." Ginny had a smug look on her face as Ron reluctantly wheeled her to where Draco was loading his trunk onto a trolley. The blonde glanced up, pausing when he saw the three approaching.

"Hi," Ginny greeted him, smiling softly. Draco gave Ron and Harry wary looks, and then kissed her cheek in greeting. Ginny, catching the glances, spun - as best she could - on the two. "Bugger off, then, both of you. I don't need you breathing down my neck while I'm trying to talk to my friend." Ron scowled openly, stomping off a few feet. Harry eyed Draco before following Ron. Draco sat on his trunk to be at eye level with Ginny, hesitantly taking her hands.

"I'm sorry for my actions on the train. I have a fear of intimacy," he admitted quickly. "I'm not good with feelings, and you confuse the hell out of me. I can't think when you're near me. I just want to hold you - and I've never felt like this about anyone before."

"Will you come stay at the Burrow?" Ginny asked suddenly, touching his cheek. Draco gave her a ghost of a smile, shrugging.

"I can try," he offered, brushing a strand of hair back from her face. "...Write me?"

"Of course," she answered, sighing as her mother called for her. "I've got to go..." Draco nodded, pausing a moment.

"...I'll see you soon," he promised, leaning in and kissing her softly. Her mouth fell open when he pulled back, and he tapped her chin, smirking. "Bye."

"Bye," she murmured, watching him haul his final bag onto his trolley and slip through the barrier. Ron's voice broke her thoughts, and he started pushing her back towards their parents.

"That was the most disgusting thing I have ever seen," he stated viciously. "I can't believe you let him do that." Ginny didn't reply, a smile playing at her lips. Draco Malfoy just kissed her.

"What did Draco have to say, darling?" Mrs. Weasley asked curiously. Ginny's smile widened, and she shrugged, shooting Ron a dirty look when he took the liberty of answering for her.

"He bloody kissed her," he said, ignoring Ginny. Mrs. Weasley blinked, then grinned.

"Did he really? How sweet," she cooed. Ron gave a frustrated growl, stomping off to join Harry by their trolleys.

"How is this a good thing?" he asked him, scowling darkly. Harry shrugged, picking at the handle of his trolley. "He's a bloody wanker, and no one seems to notice but us."

"He did fight on our side," Harry stated.

"Yeah, and he fought with us, insulted my family, and called Hermione a Mudblood on a daily basis since our first year. ...I still don't know how she can just forgive him like she did. She's amazing, and I love her, but she's completely nutters!" Harry snorted, carefully concealing his laughter, but Ron noticed it, punching his arm. "What's so funny?"

"Hermione said the same thing after we got our N.E.W.T. results back and you were dancing around the common room."

Ron turned pink, as he always did when anyone mentioned Hermione. He opened his mouth, probably about to object to this statement, but his father clapped him on the shoulder, nudging him forward.

"Come along, boys. Let's go home."

*****

"What," Draco demanded, tone curt and eyes narrowed, "do you want?" Ginny squirmed, taking the seat across from him.

"...I wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday. It was entirely inappropriate. It's none of my business what happens between you and your father, and I'm sorry." It was quiet for quite a while before Draco replied.

"You're right. It is entirely none of your business. ...But you're forgiven. Just don't go getting all clingy or what have you, just because I'm not a Death Eater."

Ginny smiled, nodding once as they both turned to their own work. The only sound was their quills scratching across parchment and the occasional page turning. Draco glanced up every so often, watching as Ginny got increasingly irritated. When she let out an aggravated groan, he put his quill down, frowning.

"Would you kindly shut your bloody trap? Some of us are trying to work," he stated. Ginny scowled, tapping her quill against her inkbottle.

"I'm sorry, this is just incredibly confusing. I'm horrible at Potions."

"What lesson?" Draco asked, scooting his chair so he could peer over her shoulder.

"Sleeping drafts," she replied mournfully, sighing heavily. "And even if I do alright, Snape will still fail me. He hates me."

"No, he hates everyone," Draco corrected, smirking as Ginny snickered. "...Let's see what I can do to help."