Unofficial Portkey Archive

Author's Note: Thanks very much to everyone who reviewed the last three chapters, as this is my first ever fic I value your comments and enthusiasm more than I can say. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Reviews would be most gratefully received.

Chapter Four : Halloween Ball

The Halloween Ball came along much quicker than Ginny had anticipated. She had spent the rest of the week after Hogsmeade hurrying to classes or skulking in her room. She couldn't get that afternoon out of her mind.

It was no secret to anyone that Malfoy had grown from a cruel looking runt into a tall, proud, not to mention otherworldly handsome young man. Even Hermione had once admitted that he was one of the best looking boys in school, much to Ron and Harry's obvious disgust.

The fact was that there wasn't a girl with a dry seat in the house when Malfoy strode into the Great Hall at meal times. He had it all, power, money, good looks, confidence. The official line in Gryffindor was that Malfoy was still a bloody prat but it was widely accepted that Draco Malfoy was gorgeous. Even with Pug-faced Pansy Parkinson on his arm.

The Halloween Ball was no exception. When Malfoy swept into the Great Hall with Parkinson on his arm, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, all eyes were on him. He looked most dashing in a crisp white shirt, open with no tie, a pair of impeccably cut black trousers and long robes with an elaborate green and silver trim. He gazed regally around the hall and he was disappointed to see that the Weasley girl was nowhere to be seen.

She had better turn up. I didn't break out my best robes for this style deficient bint. He looked over at Pansy Parkinson who was looking simply vile in livid pink dress robes that clashed painfully with the crimson lipstick she had smeared over her thin lips. Malfoy noticed with a wince that she had gotten it on her teeth.

Back at the Gryffindor common room, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna and Dean Thomas were waiting impatiently in the common room for Ginny. "Hurry up sis!" Ron bellowed up the stairs. "The bloody dance will be over before we get there!"

Turning to face the others Ron made an exasperated face. "I don't know what is taking her so long." Harry and Dean's faces suddenly blanched and then blushed. Hermione and Luna rushed past him towards the staircase squealing with delight. Turning to see what the fuss was, Ron's mouth fell open.

Ginny had descended the staircase behind him. She was dressed in a long white and gold gown made of a light, floating material of many layers and it was impossible to see how they were held together. The corset of the dress accented her slim waist and her ample bosom. Her hair was piled in a thousand curls, defying gravity on top of her head and a simple gold tiara sprinkled with tiny sparkling gold Forget-Me-Nots sat on top. She looked like a picture of a Greek Goddess that Ron had seen in a muggle book once.

He was suddenly hit with the notion that his little sister had grown into a woman, and by the look on his two friends' faces, a very attractive one at that.

"Right then let's get out of here." Ron stated, quickly growing bored of seeing the two girls fuss and gasp over Ginny's dress. "Oh and guys?" Ron was speaking to his two awestruck friends. "That's still my sister you are goggling at, shut your mouths before I shut them for you." He was only half joking.

When Ginny walked into the Great Hall, she was struck by how beautiful the decorations were. The ceiling was, as always, bewitched to look like the night sky, but tonight, with the lights down low the stars sparkled with a eerie luminous light that she could hardly have imagined. It sent a shiver down her spine.

The Hall itself was decked with sweeping black drapes that softened the cold stone walls. They seemed to be covered with something glittery that sparkled in the light emanating from the stars above.

Students were gathered in separated corners depending on which house they were in. It didn't take Ginny long to spot Malfoy in the centre of the Slytherin lot. Her heart skipped a beat as she took him in. He stood casually, leaning slightly on one of the tables pushed back against the far wall of the Hall. He seemed to have said something amusing, for the Slytherin boys were guffawing heartily and the girls around him twittered madly. No exception to this was Pansy Parkinson who she could see was clinging tightly to Malfoy's arm.

A light smile played over Ginny's lips as she could see that Malfoy was trying in vain to shake the overzealous girl off him to no avail. Suddenly she was aware of his eyes on her. He was staring at her, mouth open slightly, taking no care to conceal the direction of his stare. She blushed deeply. It was true that she had spent hours on her appearance in an attempt to make him notice her. She hadn't, however, expected such a dramatic response. She turned quickly back to her group of friends, hoping to shake off Malfoy's open mouthed gaze. Padma and Parvati had joined them with their dates and were complimenting her on her dress. She smiled and thanked them, they were too kind.

Just then the music started, a slow swinging melody, and a few couples took to the dance floor. Dean offered reluctantly to dance with Ginny but she could see he was happy standing with the others, and refused. She had only gone with him because they were trying to stay friends with each other after their short relationship and neither of them had dates. It was awkward as hell. She took a sweeping glance around the Hall. Malfoy was no longer standing with the other Slytherins and he didn't seem to be on the dance floor either.

To her horror she spotted him, and not only was he staring fixedly at her, he was striding towards them purposefully. She began to panic, turning her back on his advancing figure. She tried to engage Hermione in conversation but before they had completed two sentences, Malfoy was upon them. She could feel him standing close behind her, smell his aftershave. She stuttered and nearly swooned with anticipation. Harry was the first to notice him among the group and stiffened. " 'sakes Malfoy." he said with a bored look on his face, "Give it a rest for just one night will you? We are trying to enjoy ourselves here. I can't be bothered with you tonight."

Ginny could practically hear Malfoy's eyes rolling. "It's always about you isn't it Potter? Well this may well surprise you but I'm not here for you, Scarhead."

Without a hesitation Malfoy took hold of Ginny's hand which was hanging limply by her side, and led her away towards the dance floor. She didn't resist, but looked over her shoulder at the crowd of her friends who were stood gaping unbelievingly.

She almost smiled despite herself. She was thinking how crazy this was, how crazy she was, letting Draco Malfoy lead her to the dance floor in front of the whole school. She looked over at her brother who was being held back by Harry, Seamus and Dean. He looked fit to pop.

Malfoy swung her round to face him and held her tightly around her waist with one hand and held her hand in the other. He smiled at her and looked deeply into her eyes. For Ginny the whole world seemed to fall away. It was just her, Draco and the music. In the light of the stars his white blonde hair shimmered and his silver-blue eyes sparkled He swayed her gently, leading her in wide circles around the floor. The other students in the hall made way for them, some gaped and others whispered excitedly. Pansy Parkinson was scowling heatedly at the twirling pair while the other Slytherin girls looked on jealously.

As the song came to an end, he slowed them to a halt and lifted his hand to her face.

She is so beautiful, this is madness.

She was so sure he was going to kiss her but this time his eyes held no animal lust, it was a look of tenderness almost. He wanted to kiss her and she realised that she wanted it too.

She became aware that the look on Malfoy's face had changed. He was looking around them and as she did the same she realised that everyone in the hall was still and silent, staring right at them. She looked back at Malfoy who returned her gaze but his cheeks were red, the look of tenderness had vanished and was replaced by one of embarrassment.

He is ashamed to be with me! The realisation hit her. She thought back to what he had said in the Three Broomsticks. "contaminated with Weasley filth." That was what he was thinking, she was sure of it.

She stood back from him and he frowned at her. There was a loud "THWACK!" as her right hand collided with his left cheek. He just stood there reeling in shock, she spun on one heel and ran out of the Hall, tears running down her cheeks, leaving the loud jeering laughter behind her.