Author note. - Thanks so much to everyone that reviewed the other chapters.
Enjoy
Chapter four.
From then on Draco and Ginny continued to grow closer and closer. She began meeting him after her rounds on Friday evenings, then he started helping her with her deliveries. Before long, as the weather cleared up a little they went for long walks around the lake instead of going to The Three Broomsticks. Their meetings went from just once a week to most evenings and then from most evenings to most of their spare time.
There was a lot of speculation, as people started seeing them together more and more frequently, that there was some kind of romantic connection between them (much to Harry and Ron's disgust). It was not true that there was anything but a strong connection between them. Ginny likened it to friendship and yet it was like no friendship that either had ever experienced before. As the weeks went by and Draco showed no signs of wanting their relationship to progress into a physical one, Ginny stopped hoping for it. She had a real friend finally, the last thing she wanted to do was risk losing him.
Over the Christmas Holidays they wrote to each other almost every other day and when Christmas day came they exchanged gifts. Draco gave Ginny a Silver and Emerald snake pendant and a card which read…
So that the person outside can resemble the person inside. To my little Snake in Lion's clothing.
Ginny got Draco a first edition of his favourite book and a bottle of the finest Fire whiskey she could find. Ginny had never known a time when she had looked forward to going back to school as much as she did that year, in fact she made special arrangements with Draco to return to Hogwarts a few days early so they could see in the New Year together as neither of them thought they would have much fun at home, apart from one another.
In their spare time Draco helped Ginny get up to date with her Potions and Ginny helped him with his Transfiguration. When they found themselves without schoolwork they would sit together and read in silence, perfectly content in each other's company.
Ginny was reading in the library alone one afternoon, waiting for Draco to join her for a study session when a very nervous Neville Longbottom interrupted her.
"Ginny can I ask you something?"
Ginny had always had a soft spot for Neville. He was always so sweet to her and for that reason she smiled up at him and said, "Of course."
"Are you and Malfoy….um….I mean….are you together?"
Ginny frowned and rolled her eyes. "Has my brother sent you? For the last time NO!"
Neville looked mortified at the very idea of spying on her for Ron. "No, No! I'm asking for me. I wanted to know if you would have dinner with me tonight, I just didn't want to….you know…… step on any toes."
Ginny flushed with embarrassment, "Oh Neville! I'm so sorry!" She paused. Could she go on a date with Neville? Would Draco be upset? There was never any understanding between them and despite her deep affection for him, she was sure that they would never be anything but friends. It seemed silly to turn down what might be a very pleasant evening when Draco probably wouldn't care.
"I would love to. What time?"
Neville seemed deeply relieved and ecstatically pleased at the same time. "Eight O'clock ok with you?"
"That's fine, see you then."
As Neville walked away she confronted the strong sinking feeling in her stomach. Draco wouldn't care? Why did that realisation make her so unhappy? As if on cue Draco appeared, strutting through the library, grinning at Ginny as he approached her. He sat down opposite her and after a few seconds of silence he gave her one off his assessing looks and said, "What wrong?"
Ginny averted her eyes and replied, "Neville just asked me out for dinner so I won't be able to read with you tonight." It came out in such a rush, like she was ripping off a plaster and then she eyed him carefully, searching his face for a reaction. When it came, it was what Ginny had expected.
"Longbottom eh? Righto. We are still ok for revision for that Transfiguration test I have tomorrow afternoon though right? In here tomorrow morning?"
"Of course." Ginny took a deep breath and braced herself. "Draco? Why don't you ever go out with anyone? God knows there are enough girls around here who fancy you so why do you spend all your time with me?"
Draco studied her face intensely, Ginny's eyes began to water from the effort of holding his gaze. Draco shook his head suddenly and said, "I just enjoy your company that's all. Now you mention it there is someone I have had my eye on a while. I just can't get her to look at me like that. After all everyone still thinks I'm going out with you so no one thinks they have a chance."
Lowering her eyes to her books she sat there and took in what he had just said.
Does he think I'm holding him back?
Ginny felt a wave of misery wash over her and fearing that Draco would pick up on it she quickly excused herself saying that she had to go and get ready for her date with Neville.
On her way back to the common room she turned what had happened that afternoon over and over in her head.
She had felt that going on a date with Neville would be wrong somehow.
She had been upset by the idea that Draco wouldn't care that she was going on a date with someone else.
She had been even more upset when he mentioned that he liked some girl.
She was completely and utterly in love with Draco Malfoy.
And he only saw her as a friend.
By Eight O Clock Ginny had convinced herself that dinner with Neville was just the tonic she needed. He met her in the common room and walked her down to Hogsmeade and into the back room of The Three Broomsticks where Madam Rosmerta served them a lovely meal. Neville was pleasant company, engaging her in conversation about lessons and books and a whole manner of other things.
It should have been the perfect first date, but something was missing. And that something, no matter how much she tried to deny it, was Draco Malfoy. It should be his witty banter across the dinner table, his arm linked with hers and his lips on her cheek at the end of the night. By the time she had said goodnight to Neville she was more sure than ever that she couldn't hide what she felt for Draco. She had to tell him and she had to tell him now before she went completely mad.