The Hospital Wing and the Astronomy Tower

Blaise Zabini hadn't been this happy since she was well under the age of nine. For the first time in her life, she had used her manipulative skills to actually help somebody else.

"What are you talking about?" Draco asked.

"What? Did I say something?" said Blaise.

"Yeah, you said 'it worked, it worked,'" said Ginny.

"Oh," said Blaise. "Yes, a simple sorting spell I've been trying on these potions."

"So I suppose you don't need me," said Draco.

"No," said Blaise. "You two don't need me, I'll leave; I've already done my share of work."

"You'll do no such thing," said Draco. "You're serving a detention just as much as I am, it wouldn't be fair of you to leave."

"And since when have you cared about fair play?" Ginny said coolly.

"You keep your freckley nose out of this," Draco sneered.

"Well I have a detention here as well," said Ginny. "And what is up with you? One minute you're talking to me perfectly fine, and the next, you're snapping at me."

"Mood swings," said Blaise, matter-of-factly. "But I think I've done enough, so I have a right to leave."

"No, if you get to leave, then so do I," said Draco.

"And me," said Ginny. "I shouldn't even be here; I got a detention for the stupidest of all reasons."

"I'm sure," said Draco, rolling his eyes. "You're a true Weasley, you complain about everything."

Ginny's face turned red, clashing violently with her red hair. "You shouldn't talk, Malfoy, you spoiled brat. You never stop complaining."

"Ah, so you're meant to be," said Blaise.

"Shut up!" Ginny and Draco shouted at the same time.

"I rest my case," said Blaise. "You're both perfect for each other, and you're both blind to the fact, which is all the more perfect, and it's forbidden, which just tops it all off with a cherry."

"What the Hell are you on about?" Draco snapped.

"I set all this up," said Blaise. "And everything between Potter and I, that was just so that Ginny would forget about her dumb little crush, but I also have my own reasons for chosing myself as the one who gets Potter. But getting back to the point, I asked Professor Snape to give you both detentions, at the same time. Luckily he didn't ask why, and I'm actually surprised he went through with it."

"What?" Draco shouted. "I have a detention for no reason, all because you can't get enough of this little game?"

"This little game," said Blaise, "is a lot of fun. But Ginny screwed it up at one point because of that Finnigan, and it's taken me two weeks to finally get this back on track."

"Why don't you just let me do what I want to do?" Ginny screamed. "Why complicate things?"

"Because what's life without complications?" said Blaise. "And anyway, this is what you want, you just don't know it yet."

"Blaise," said Draco. "I'm not following."

"Draco. Ginny. Yes," said Blaise, slowly, as though she was speaking to a troll. "Finnigan. Ginny. No," at this point, Blaise waved her arms as though to say no. "Get it?"

"Why?" said Draco. "That's what I don't understand."

"Because you're too stupid to figure it out on your own," said Blaise. "Draco and Ginny go together like chicken and potatoes, like Crabbe and Goyle. You get it?"

"But I'm with Seamus," said Ginny.

"Ginny, when you were looking up at the sky with Seamus, what did you ask him?" said Blaise.

"How do you know about that?" Ginny asked.

"Just answer the question," said Blaise.

"I asked him if he thought the stars were the greatest magic in the universe," said Ginny.

"And why did you ask him?" said Blaise.

Ginny looked at Draco. "Because somebody once told me they thought that they thought the most powerful magic was in the sky, and I never thought that person was capable of ever thinking that way, I always thought that person was shallow, and spoiled," she said, without taking her eyes off of Draco.

""What did Finnigan say?" Blaise said, a smirk spread across her face.

"He said... He said the greatest magic was in Quidditch," Ginny replied.

"What do you have to say about that?" Blaise questioned.

Ginny thought for a moment. "Seamus loves Quidditch," she said. "He's a Quidditch player, and I don't think anyone should ever take that away from him."

"That's all he is, though, isn't it?" said Blaise. "He's a sweet boy with good looks, but he has no depth."

Ginny didn't reply. She was lost in thought.

"Draco," said Blaise. "What was your first impression of Anna?"

"I don't have to answer that," said Draco.

"Draco," said Blaise, with a warning look.

"I thought, 'father would approve,'" said Draco. "And I liked what I saw."

"And your first almost real conversation," said Blaise. "What was your impression of her?"

"She was a bitch," said Draco.

"As oppose to?" Blaise inquired.

"What are you doing this for?" Draco said.

"Who were you comparing Anna to?" Blaise repeated.

"I don't have to answer to you," said Draco, crossing his arms.

"Draco," said Blaise. "If you don't want me to hex you, you'll have to answer me."

"I don't care," said Draco. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Arrogant prat," Ginny muttered.

"Watch that toungue of yours Weasley," said Draco, smirking.

"Answer. My. Question," said Blaise, over-pronouncing each word.

"Fine," said Draco. "I was comparing her to this little git," he gestured towards Ginny.

"And which would you prefer?" said Blaise.

"What do you think?" said Draco. "Blonde hair, green eyes, beautiful, Slytherin. Or red hair, and forbidden?"

"Red hair and forbidden," said Blaise. "Because you just love taking risks, don't you Draco?"

"I chose the one my father would approve of," said Draco. "I've spent my whole life trying to make him happy."

"I don't want to know who your father would have chosen," said Blaise, the frustration rising in her voice. "I want to know who you'd choose, given the option."

"Red hair, and forbidden," said Draco.

Ginny looked up. "Why?" she said, her voice quiet and mouse-like.

Draco looked at her and shrugged.

"This is my cue to leave," said Blaise, stepping through the door.

"Draco, this isn't going to work," said Ginny.

"I know that," said Draco. "But I don't think Blaise knows."

"And Ron's acting really odd," said Ginny. "I can't understand it, it's like they know something we don't."

"Me neither," said Draco. "And Potter too, since when was he so understanding?"

"Harry's a good person," said Ginny. "He's always been understanding."

"I see," said Draco. There was an awkward silence, in which neither of the two looked at each other. Finally, Draco spoke. "I've been thinking," he said. "You know, about the sacrifice thing. It should be coming up very soon."

Ginny nodded. "Should be around February," she said. "Have you changed your mind yet, or do you still want to be a heartless murderer?"

Draco sighed. "It's unstoppable, and it is what was meant for me."

"But you don't have to be what they want you to be," said Ginny. "You can chose your own path."

Draco shrugged. "I suppose it's possible," he said.

"Of course it is," said Ginny. "Nothing's impossible, anything can happen."

"Can it?" said Draco, looking directly into Ginny's eyes. She stared back at him, but didn't speak. These past few weeks had been ridiculously unexplainable, and her feelings towards Draco were unexplainable all the same.

***

Blaise strode into the library, already knowing that Ron Weasley would be there with his girlfriend.

"Ronny boy," she said.

Ron looked up, scowling. "Get away from me," he said.

"You forgave Harry," said Blaise. "Now can't you just accept me?"

"No," said Ron. "Go away."

"Where's the girlfriend?" said Blaise.

"Over there," said Ron, pointing towards Hermione, who was searching for a book.

"You aren't doing homework, are you?" said Blaise.

"What's it to you?" Ron snapped.

"What is it this time?" asked Blaise, sitting down across from Ron. "Is Voldemort back?"

"Get lost," Ron repeated.

"Fine, I'll just ask Harry," said Blaise. "I only came to let you know that your sister and Draco are back together, and there's nothing you can do to stop them."

"What are you talking about?" said Ron. "What d'you mean, 'back together?'"

Blaise smiled. "You really didn't know, did you?" she said.

"Know what?" Ron demanded.

"Yeah, I would have thought you'd have squashed him like a rotten pumpkin six days after Hallowe'en if you had known," she continued. "So you really didn't know. I never thought anyone could be so dense."

"I haven't a clue what you're on about," said Ron.

"That's why you kept saying Harry and Ginny," Blaise went on. "That is really funny. Really, really funny."

"I'm afraid I'm missing the joke," said Ron. "And Hermione told me that Harry and Ginny had gotten together, was she lying?"

"Of course she was!" Blaise shrieked. "But you believed her? Weasley, you have too much faith in your friends."

"What?" said Ron, "she lied?"

Blaise nodded. "But I suppose it was for your own good, because Draco would fight back, and you'd both end up in the hospital wing."

"Where is that Malfoy?" Ron demanded.