The Hospital Wing and the Astronomy Tower

After the Prefects' meeting, Ginny wanted to talk to Blaise for a number of reasons. First of all, she wanted to know why she had gotten so angry, she was usually good at managing her anger. Secondly, she wanted to ask her how long Cho and Harry had been back together, Ginny hadn't been informed of this, and was slightly shocked at how flirty the two of them were. The meeting had been quite different; their was a Valentine's Day Ball planned for fifth years and higher; the staff (and the Head Boy and Girl) seemed to think that the fourth years should not attend this one.

Ginny hurried down the stairs but didn't see Blaise anywhere. She had to admit, she was quite worried about the other girl.

"Ginny," someone called from behind her. It was Draco. "Wait a second," he said.

She stopped and waited for him.

"Are you avoiding me or something?" he asked.

"No, of course not," she replied. "I just want to find Blaise."

"I think Blaise needs to be alone right now," said Draco.

"All right," said Ginny. "But do you have any idea what's wrong?"

"Not a clue," he replied. "But don't worry about her."

Ginny nodded. "Did you have something to say?" she asked.

Draco rolled his eyes. "And here I was thinking you were smarter than the average Gryffindor," he said. "Do I have to spell everything out for you?"

"No need to be so rude," said Ginny, defensively.

"No need to act so dumb," said Draco, mockingly. "Do you want to take a walk with me? Maybe talk? And maybe do other stuff?"

Ginny thought for a moment. "After how you've been acting?" she asked.

He smiled sweetly. "Please?"

Ginny smiled back. "Now how can I refuse that?"

He held out his hand and she took it. The two of them walked outside together.

"So, I haven't really had a proper conversation with you that doesn't involve Blaise or Potter with you since... Well, since that night in the Astronomy Tower," said Draco.

"I know," said Ginny. "Are you hinting at something?"

"Stop mocking me, Ginny," Draco said.

"Why?" asked Ginny. "You mock me all the time."

"Because you're so damn mockable," he said.

"Shut up," said Ginny. "And just to let you know, the last time we had a proper conversation, as you put it, was out here, yesturday."

"So it was," said Draco. "So it was."

"And can I ask you a serious question?" said Ginny. He nodded. "Is mockable a real word?" she asked.

Draco laughed. "That's a serious question?"

Ginny smiled. "There just isn't much to talk about," she said.

"Then why talk?" said Draco, before leaning down and kissing her.

So, this is what it's like to kiss Draco, Ginny thought. Complex, just like him; deep and passionate, but shallow and mocking. Ginny loved the way his tounge gently brushed over hers, sending shivers down her spine, and she never wanted the kiss to end, but-

"GINNY!"

Stupid Ron! Always showing up at the wrong time.

Draco was first to pull away, and when he did, Ron jumped him. Within seconds, the two of them were rolling about in the snow, fists flying. Ginny rolled her eyes, and muttered, "Wingardium Leviosa."

Ron flew up a few inches off the ground, and Ginny dropped him in the snow. Before he could attack Draco again, Ginny muttered, "Accio Draco!"

This time it was Draco's turn to fly. But his landing wasn't very smooth either, he landed on Ginny, who fell backwards into the snow. The next few seconds consisted of the three of them trying to stand up, complaining about their injuries.

"Ow! My back hurts!" Ron whined.

"I think I've broken a few ribs," said Ginny.

"My stomach hurts, I shouldn't have eaten so much," said Draco, who was hunched over.

"C'mon Ginny, let's get you to the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey will fix those ribs in no time," said Ron. He took Ginny by the arm and walked her up to the castle.

"Oy! Wait for me!" cried Draco. "I need to come too! Aww, come on, wait a second!"

***

"And so that's when I realised that Professor Binns wasn't accurate in saying that the four founders were good friends," said Mandy Brockelhurst. "Salazar and Godric were constantly fighting."

Hermione yawned, yet again. She did love to learn, but Mandy Brockelhurst of Ravenclaw seemed a bit too determined.

"I don't mean to differ, but Professor Binns really should read Hogwarts, A History again, don't you agree?" Mandy continued.

"Oh, yeah, certainly,"said Hermione, looking desperately at the library door. Suddenly the door opened to admit Padma Patil. "Ah, look, it's Padma," said Hermione, extremely grateful to Padma at that moment.

"So it is," said Mandy, waving at Padma. Padma waved back.

"Why don't you tell her all about your theory?" Hermione said to Mandy. "There's something I need to attend to." Hermione quickly got up and hurried through the library door, without even saying bye to Mandy. Wonder where Ron could be, Hermione thought. She'd just seen Ron an hour ago, but she missed him dearly. She walked for a few minutes, until she saw Ron accompanying Ginny into the Hospital Wing.

Oh dear! she thought. What could have happened?

Draco Malfoy had just come around the corner clutching his stomach. He seemed to be headed toward the infirmary as well.

"Malfoy!" called Hermione. "Malfoy, what's happened to Ginny?"

Draco looked at her, his grey eyes cold as ever. "Your boyfriend jumped me," he said. "Why don't you ask him?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and rushed into the infirmary, closely followed by Draco.

Ron was speaking to Madam Pomfrey, and Ginny was sitting up on one of the beds.

"Oh Ginny!" cried Hermione, "what happened?"

Ginny smiled cheerfully. "Oh, I'm all right, it's nothing, just a few broken ribs."

"Are you being sarcastic?" said Hermione with disapproval.

Ginny shook her head. "I really am fine. Honestly."

***

"It'll be beautiful in Hogsmeade," said Cho. "It'll be just you and me, on Hogwarts' business. I think it's wonderful, don't you Harry?"

Harry looked doubtful. "I wouldn't exactly call an afternoon in Hogsmeade discussing future plans for Hogwarts an exciting vacation in Hawaii."

"Well, it's better than nothing," said Cho.

Harry shrugged. "Suppose so."

"You seem so distant Harry. Is something the matter?" asked Cho with concern.

"No," said Harry. "Everything's fine." He kissed her to prove that everything was fine, then walked out of the Prefects' room, leaving Cho alone. He still didn't feel quite satisfied when with Cho. He'd much rather have somebody who wasn't so pushy, and annoying, he'd rather have someone like Ginny. Too late for that now, he thought. Then he suddenly remembered that he'd told Draco he would apologize to Ginny. But how were you supposed to apologize for something like that? I'm sorry for ignoring you all those years Ginny, I've been a real arse. Yeah, that sounds convincing. Who knew saying sorry could be so hard?

He walked aimlessly for a few minutes thinking about what he was supposed to be apologizing for, but then he started thinking about the Prefects' meeting, and why he had been distracted the whole time. Blaise Zabini. She had blown up at Cho, and then left without a backwards glance. She'd just left, and Harry wanted to find her, but Cho had kept him for half an hour after the meeting, much to his annoyance. The reason he had wanted to find Blaise was because for a split second, he had remembered the eleven year old girl she had been only seconds before being sorted into Slytherin. For those few seconds, he had actually been hoping she'd be sorted into Gryffindor, but she hadn't.

***

Blaise sat still on the floor with her back against the wall. She had been sitting there for almost an hour now, thinking. Thinking about the dream she had had. Thinking about him. Everything in her life seemed to be so wrong. Since when did a Zabini care about others? Since when did a Zabini feel confused? It wasn't supposed to happen, and it was all over a stupid boy. Or was it? Blaise had thought it was because of Ginny, but she had decided Ginny had nothing to do with it, it was him; he was the one who was getting in the way all of a sudden. But why did she care about Ginny?