Unofficial Portkey Archive

The Adventure

By RowlingIdol

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't own the song `With Me. This chapter contains slight language, teen drinking and sexual references. Review if you wish! They are most appreciated.

Chapter 8: With Me

The next day the announcement was made regarding the Masquerade Ball. It really couldn't be helped. Ever since Neville's slip up in morning Herbology, word had spread around the castle like wildfire.

It was to be held in two weeks on Halloween Night. Black suits for the men, black dresses for the ladies. And all of them were to wear masks.

The masks were supposed to represent the countless `faces' of those lost in the war. A wonderful idea of a tribute, if Professor McGonagall did say so herself.

A Hogsmeade trip was scheduled the weekend before the Masquerade so that students could purchase dresses and masks in the village. Gladrags was teaming up with Madam Malkins from Diagon Alley to stock the things the students would need.

Fliers were already posted around the castle. The people in paintings frowned at them as they hung too close to their precious frames.

"Is this all that I missed while I was away?" Draco asked, sneering at one of the bright pink posters.

"It was only mentioned yesterday." Ginny said, stopping in her tracks. She turned around, waiting for him to stop reading the poster. They were on their way towards the library.

"I was here yesterday." Draco said annoyed.

"I know." Ginny replied. Draco rolled his eyes.

"That's not what I meant." He said grumpily.

"It's just a dance." Ginny said, shrugging. She started climbing a nearby staircase.

"Dances don't happen at Hogwarts…. Often." Draco corrected himself as he followed her up the stairs.

"That's all right."

"Shouldn't you be all giggly over it though?"

"I wasn't `all giggly' over the Yule Ball."

"You were just happy Longbottom asked you because if he hadn't you couldn't have gone anyways."

"True. He's not a bad dancer actually."

"He can't ask you this time."

"Who says I want to go?"

"That look in your eye every time we pass one of these hideous pink posters."

She sighed and stopped again, this time while the staircases moved.

"What are you trying to get at?" She asked him, slightly irritated.

"Do you want to go."

"Yes." She snapped.

"Geez don't sound so happy about it. I'll pick you up at seven." Draco replied.

Ginny's mouth fell open.

"You sneaky bastard." She said, breaking into a smile and hitting Draco on the shoulder.

"Hey! My parents are happily married…. Well…. They're married anyways, thank you very much." Draco said, rubbing at his shoulder. For a girl, she could hit pretty hard. Probably because of having all those brothers.

"So you really want to take me?" she asked.

He shrugged.

"Why not?"

"It'll be in public. Where people can see." She said.

"That's all right." Draco said.

"Really? And why's that." She asked, hands on her hips.

"Because you'll be with me." He said.

They smiled at each other for moment.

"Okay then. Seven o' clock. Outside the Great Hall." she told him.

~*~*~*~

Ginny entered the Gryffindor common room after dinner to find Hermione with an unusual stack of reading material next to her. Fashion magazines.

"What happened to your hair?" Ron asked rudely, pointing to Ginny.

Her hands flew up to hair. Draco had terribly messed up her hair during some forbidden library snogging.

"I fell asleep in the library doing studying. Is that a crime?" She said.

"That happens to you all the time. No wonder your hair looks a sight." Ron told Hermione. She promptly hit him with a rolled up copy of Vogue.

"That is NOT why my hair looks a `sight' Ron. I thought you liked my hair."

"I do. But sometimes…." Ron trailed off as Hermione raised the magazine again.

"Good idea Ron. Shut it." Harry said.

"Ginny come look at dress ideas with me!" Hermione beckoned.

"Do I have to?" Ginny whined as she made her way over to the couch they were all gathered around.

"Yes! I only have another 40 minutes of free time to look at all these magazines before I have to start studying again."

"So I take it you're going to attend the Masquerade?" Ginny asked, looking between Ron and Hermione. Ron's ears went red.

"Luckily he remembered I told him four years ago to ask me not as a last resort. He practically asked while the announcement was being made this morning." Hermione explained, quickly flipping through her magazine.

"What do you think about this one?" she asked, holding the magazine out to Ginny.

"Looks pretty…. Expensive." Ginny said, frowning.

"If you want. I can always get a new one and let you borrow my old black party dress." Hermione offered.

Ginny gritted her teeth. She was getting sick and tired of all the secondhand clothes and hand me downs.

She suddenly had an idea.

"No thank you Hermione." Ginny said sweetly. "I can handle this one myself." She said.

Hermione looked at her funny and blinked a couple of times.

"Well… All right then." Hermione said.

Ron went back to his game of wizards chess with Harry but Harry got up to come over to Ginny while Ron sat plotting.

"Ginny. If you'd like, I could buy you a masquerade dress." he offered.

"I said I was fine Harry. I can get a dress on my own."

"Okay okay." Harry said. "I was just thinking that since we were going together I could get you a gift…." Harry trailed off as Ginny's face fell.

"I'm afraid I've already been asked." Ginny said slowly, feeling Ron and Hermione's eyes boring into her.

There was silence in the room. Harry burst out laughing.

"Hahahahaha Ginny! Good one. You nearly got me there." Harry said laughing.

"I'm not kidding Harry. I was already asked."

"Already?" Harry nearly shouted.

"Yes."

"But you can't go with Neville! He's practically a teacher!" Hermione cried out.

"I'm not going with Neville again." Ginny explained.

"Then who are you going with?" Ron asked.

"None of your business." Ginny said, sticking out her tongue at him.

"That's not fair! You need to tell us!" Hermione told her.

"You didn't tell them you were going with Krum to the Yule Ball!" Ginny shot at Hermione.

"I told you." Hermione shot back.

"Fine. I will tell you later." Ginny promised Hermione.

"How come we don't get to know?" Ron complained. Harry was currently at a loss for words. He looked in shock.

"I say so." Ginny said.

After another moment Harry made his way back to the wizard chess table.

"It's probably Neville and she doesn't want to say." She heard Ron whisper to Harry. Harry gave quick nod.

"Ooooh look at this one!" Hermione squealed.

~*~*~*~

The following weekend Hermione and Ginny were excited to go to Hogsmeade for dress shopping.

"The store is going to be packed." Ginny said, slipping into her worn winter jacket.

"I know but I have this strategically planned." Hermione assured her.

"What? You're going to use me as a battering ram against all those other girls?"

"No silly. We're going to grab as many dresses as we see as we make a mad dash to the dressing rooms."

"Very strategic." Ginny teased.

"Do you have a better idea?"

"Not really." Ginny shrugged.

Hermione looked at her watch. It was almost noon so the students would be released to Hogsmeade shortly.

Once there, Ginny's belief of the dress store being packed was clearly an understatement. There were girls literally fighting over dresses and it was hard to move once inside. It was a madhouse.

"Here! Go go go!" Hermione shouted to Ginny, handing a massive pile of black fabric into her arms and shoving her in the direction of the dressing room.

There were even several boys in the shop, browsing the very empty men's side of the store for suits.

"Next in line for dressing rooms!" A witch called. Three girls scrambled for the one room, two of them being forced back into line as the door quickly slammed shut.

Ginny sighed as she stood there in line waiting for a dressing room.

"Merlin I hope you're not wearing that to the ball." A voice drawled beside her. She jumped.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed at Draco.

"Shopping."

"You're not buying anything." She said, looking at his empty hands.

"I already own a suit. Several to be in fact."

"Then why are you here?"

"Seeing what you were getting."

"How'd you know I was here?"

"It wasn't hard to guess. Most of the schools female population is here."

Ginny frowned.

"You can't see what I'm getting." She said, hugging the fabric to her chest.

"In fact, I don't even know how many dresses I'm holding. Hermione just shoved them at me."

"Let's hope she has good taste." He said.

"Yeah or I'll have to wait in this line again." Ginny said, indicating the line for the dressing rooms.

"You could always change right here." Draco said, grinning.

"You pig." she told him. He chuckled.

"Well. Don't disappoint me." Draco said, nodding to the pile of fabric in her arms. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and strolled out of the store.

"Hermione! I need more dresses!!!!" Ginny screamed from the line.

~*~*~*~

Draco strolled down the street outside of the dress shop. He overheard several other girls complaining about how they got to the shop too late, seeing as the line was now threatening to exit the store.

He took a right and headed straight for Zabini's.

He knocked twice before letting himself in.

"Long time no see!" Blaise said to him. He was sprawled out on one of his couches, flipping through a pile of parchment.

Draco shrugged to his friend as he approached the couch. Blaise sat up.

"Why do I get the feeling you only come see me after you shag that broad of yours?" he questioned, lips turning up a smile.

Draco glared at him.

"I didn't come to you after it happened last time."

"Aha! So you did knock her again!" Blaise said, pointing a finger. Draco continued to glare at the widening smile on Blaise's face.

"Hey, you don't come otherwise." Blaise continued, leaning back on the couch and stretching his arms across the back of it.

"I came the night it happened."

"Yeah but that's because I asked you to. Do I need to send you a threatening letter each and every time from now on if I want to see my old friend?"

"I'm not here on behalf of lady problems." Draco said, pulling up an ottoman and sitting on that. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black box. Blaise's mouth popped into an `o' shape.

"Damn mate don't you think it's a little soon for that?" He nearly squeaked. Blaise was more terrified of the black box than Draco was.

"My father apparently doesn't think so."

"He's forty three! He doesn't need to be thinking things like that." Blaise nearly shouted. "Did you tell him who it is?"

"Didn't get the chance to. If I did, do you think he would have handed this piece of junk to me?"

"Probably not." Blaise answered, shrugging.

"What does your mum think? Doesn't she think its too early?"

"My mother got one when she was seventeen. That's how old Ginny is."

"Your father is like, six years older than your mum though. He was trying to do the grown up thing."

"You act as if she was expecting me when he gave it to her." Draco said, staring down unhappily at the black box.

"Two years later isn't much difference."

Draco sighed.

"Father has been feeling ill lately. He's gotten it into his mind that his time is coming." Draco rolled his eyes.

"He does look older." Blaise commented.

"It's the war." Draco blamed. "It did a number on all of us."

"Yeah. Look at that receding hair line." Blaise said, eyeing Draco's forehead.

Draco slapped a hand to his head and felt around.

"I'm just kidding mate, calm down." Blaise chuckled at the look of shock on Draco's face.

"So when are you going to give it to her." Blaise questioned, getting up and heading to the bar behind him.

"Are you even going to?" he continued, reaching for a glass.

Draco was quiet.

"Oh shit mate. Your father is going to explode."

"I didn't say I was going to."

"The look on face says you're going to."

Draco grumbled.

"Her father will probably explode. And all her brothers will explode. And her mum. And your mum. You're dead mate."

"You're making all of this worse than it really is. You're just like my father in that way." Draco said, heading to the bar as well.

"Can I see it?" Blaise asked, reaching for the box Draco still held in his hand.

"You've seen it before." Draco said, frowning.

"Yeah but I want to see this one." Blaise said, flexing the fingers on his outstretched hand. Draco sighed and handed it over.

Blaise flipped the top open and gave a low whistle.

"Whose was it."

"Some great great grandmothers or something I think."

"It's something." Blaise said, handing the box back.

"Are you guys even…. Official?" Blaise asked, handing Draco a hard Butterbeer.

Draco was silent once more.

Blaise practically giggled.

"Heehee. Draco has a girlfriend."

~*~*~*~

Ginny and Hermione both sighed as they eventually made their way to the front of the store, ready to purchase their dresses.

"Do you think he'll like it?" Ginny timidly asked Hermione.

"That depends. Who are we talking about here?"

"My date."

"Ginny it looked fabulous on you. Don't worry."

"But he has….. High standards." Ginny mumbled.

Hermione shot Ginny a side glance.

"Are you-"

"The total will be two hundred and fifty please." The witch at the checkout interrupted.

"Ginny." Hermione hissed. "That is super expensive!"

"I've got it." Ginny hissed back. The cashier gave them a look as if they were going to take the dresses and run without paying.

"Do you need me to pitch in half? You can pay me back." Hermione offered.

"I've got it, all right?" Ginny sighed exasperated.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the drawstring bag she had received from Blaise. She handed it to the cashier who looked inside, seeming impressed.

"Ginny where did all that money come from? Did Harry give you money for the dress after you turned him down? Are you really going with him? Did you just say someone else because you were uncomfortable with him asking you when Ron and I were around?" Hermione pestered.

"No. Harry did not pay for the dress. I am not going with Harry." Ginny answered while the cashier counted out the money in the bag.

"Someone had to have paid you to either go with them or gave you money for a dress."

"Someone gave me money but it wasn't for either of those things."

"Who has money like that to just hand awwwWWOMIGOSH YOU'RE GOING WITH MALFMMMM!"

Hermione's squeals were cut off by Ginny slapping a hand over her friends mouth. The cashier gave them a terrified look.,

"Ginny what are you thinking?" Hermione hissed, looking her shoulder at the couple of students giving them awkward looks.

The cashier handed Ginny her dress in a covered bag. Hermione moved to the side to pay for her own dress.

"He wouldn't." Hermione said, shaking her head.

"Wouldn't what?" Ginny asked, frowning.

"He wouldn't ask you to a school dance let alone any public outing. He's…. Malfoy."

"So?"

"So he's a pigheaded stinky ferret whose family has tried to kill us on numerous occasions."

"He didn't specifically try to kill us."

"Talk to Harry about that one." Hermione scoffed.

"He was only doing what his father wanted him to do. And besides, his family wants nothing to do with the war now. You know that as well as I do."

"Is this what all this- people can change - crap has been about?" Hermione rudely snapped.

"They can." Ginny said defensively.

"I think he hit his head somewhere between the battle of Hogwarts and now." Hermione shook her head as she was handed her change and her dress.

"If he stands you up I'm going to tell you `I told you so'." Hermione warned.

"He won't."

"I'll believe it when I see it." Hermione said.

"Please don't tell Harry and Ron." Ginny begged. Hermione stopped in her tracks and eyed Ginny suspiciously.

"Why." She asked, giving Ginny another side glance.

"What do you mean `why'? It will be the worst date ever!"

"I think you hit your head too, Ginny. They're going to find out anyways when they see you at the ball."

"But in the meantime they could probably send him to another dimension or something and then the dress will go to waste. You don't want fashion to go to waste do you?" Ginny pleaded.

"The dress is beautiful…" Hermione mused. She stared off into space as she thought, nearly running into a passing cart of produce.

"Fine. I won't tell them. But YOU have to explain everything when you're confronted because trust me. It WILL happen."

"I know." Ginny said, hanging her head slightly as they walked down the street.

~*~*~*~

"You know, Pansy is a little put off you're attending a school dance instead of her wedding." Blaise told Draco as they sat at the bar drinking.

"It's not like I could go anyways. The weekend I left school was technically because of a `medical emergency' and it was teacher chaperoned. They're not going to let me go to a social function out of school. Besides, who wants to get married on Halloween anyways?"

"Pansy apparently." Blaise sighed. "I really hate that I agreed to let her have her bachelorette party here the night before the wedding. But you know her, its really hard to tell her `no'."

"I found it quite easy to tell her `no'." Draco stated. "The whining and complaining after you tell her `no' is the hard part."

"Good point." Blaise said. "At least she's paying me well to have her party here. That guy she's marrying is quite loaded."

"What's his name again?" Draco pondered, taking a swig of his drink.

"Sovereign Nicolayeff Karkaroff." Blaise snorted.

"That's a mouthful."

"It sounds like a Russian delicacy."

"Don't let her hear you say that." Draco warned.

"I can handle myself mate." Blaise said.

"So you and Weasley, huh?" Blaise asked, turning to subject back to Draco.

"Yes."

"I still can't get over it." Blaise said, leaning his elbows on the bar counter, running a hand through his long hair.

"Neither can I." Draco agreed.

"I mean she's pretty….. But her family….." Blaise trailed off.

"My family isn't exactly in good standing right now. Her family is probably in better standings than us at this point, with their relationship to Potter and all."

"What does Potter think of this union between you and Ginny?"

Draco was silent.

"You have to tell him." Blaise said with a tone of warning in his voice.

"I'm aware of that."

"You have to be serious about this broad, you know that right? Before you tell Potter about it."

"I already told her I love her." Draco said, looking away from Blaise.

There was silence.

"Merlin mate why didn't you tell me?!" Blaise said, giving Draco a hefty clap to his back nearly causing him to fall off his stool.

"Did she say it back?"

Draco shook his head as he took a drink.

"I kind of blurted it out when I was asking her to be my…. Gir….. girlfriend." Draco said, still unable to get the word out easily.

"She'll say it. Don't worry mate."

Draco nodded.

"Want to go outside for a smoke?" Blaise asked, opening up a brown wooden case on the top of the bar and taking out two cigars.

"Cubans?" Draco asked, eyeing the cigars.

"Just part of my heritage." Blaise said, winking at Draco.

"Your mother's second husband doesn't count. He's not your father."

"Well they're good anyways." Blaise told Draco, handing him a cigar.

They headed outside of the club and leaned against the buildings walls, watching the students and townspeople walk by.

"When are you going to give it to her." Blaise nodded towards Draco's pocket, indicating the black box.

"I was thinking the masquerade…" Draco trailed off.

"Not Christmas?" Blaise questioned.

"It's not exactly a Christmas gift Blaise." Draco snorted.

"Well, I hope she has a dress it will go with." Blaise said.

"She was at Gladrags with Granger buying one."

"Hope she can afford it." Blaise commented.

"She's using the money you paid her you stupid bastard."

"Then she definitely can afford a good one."

He took a puff on his cigar and blew it out in a long stream.

"Do you hear something?" Draco asked Blaise. He and Blaise stood and listened closely to the voices that were approaching them.

~*~*~*~

Hermione and Ginny turned a corner, almost running into some people hovering around a doorway.

"Well well well." Drawled a voice. "What do we have here?"

"Bought something pretty for yourself ?" Draco asked, winking at Ginny, then giving a quick wary glance at Hermione.

"You're not seeing it." Ginny snapped at him.

"Come on doll. Let me see what my money bought you." Blaise said, moving in to make a grab for Ginny's dress bag. She held it tighter to her chest.

"Zabini's money?" Hermione snapped, head whirling in Ginny's direction. Draco elbowed Blaise in the side, giving him a `shut the fuck up' look.

"It's okay, she knows." Ginny said, rolling her eyes at the terrified look on Draco's face.

"Everything?!?!" Draco nearly squeaked.

"No not everything." Ginny said, going pink.

"I do." Blaise interjected.

"What aren't you telling me?" Hermione whined. "I want to know everything."

"No you don't." Draco and Ginny replied at the same time.

Hermione glared between the two boys and Ginny.

"Fine. Whatever. I'll eventually find out. I'm not stupid you know."

"We know." The three said in unison. Hermione's eyebrows furrowed together deeper.

"Why don't we all go back in and sit down and chat?" Blaise suggested, flicking cigar ash to the side, nearly dropping some on Hermione.

"No thanks. We need to get back to the school." Ginny said, shaking her head.

"Well then, it was a pleasure Ginevra my dear." Blaise said, bowing to her.

"Knock it off." Draco growled to Blaise, elbowing him harshly again.

"Damn mate your elbows are like swords." Blaise said, rubbing his side.

"You know smoking is bad." Hermione said, eyeing the cigars both boys held.

Blaise just blew his latest drag of smoke in Hermione's direction. She wrinkled her nose.

"See you later." Ginny said, taking a hold of Hermione's arm and dragging her friend away with her.

When they were out of earshot, Hermione let Ginny have an earful.

"So what is it Ginny? You like bad boys? Because that's exactly what he is."

"He's not a `bad boy'!" Ginny snapped. Hermione gave her a look.

"Okay fine so maybe he is. So what?"

"Bad boys are `bad' for a reason."

"He has `bad' habits, that's all." Ginny said.

"And a `bad' reputation."

"Harry has a reputation."

"Is that what this is about? Are you just looking for an excuse to let Harry down?"

Ginny's mouth fell open.

"See? I'm not just book smart Ginny. I've been picking up on something for some time now. I just didn't know the ferret was your scapegoat."

Ginny bit her tongue to avoid telling Hermione Draco wasn't a scapegoat.

"If you don't want to go back to Harry, just tell him."

"You mean you won't hate me?" Ginny asked.

"Of course I won't Ginny! You can be with whomever you want. You don't have to be with Harry."

"Okay…. Good." Ginny said, breathing a sigh of relief.

"But you will have to tell him." Hermione told her, pointing a finger. "Just like how you have to tell him you're going to the masquerade with Draco."

~*~*~*~

"Ouch!" Ginny practically screamed as Hermione tugged at the laces of her corset.

"Breathe in!" Hermione said through gritted teeth.

"I am!" Ginny gasped.

"Breathe in more!" Hermione grunted, pulling at the corset once more.

Ginny took in another breath and held it for what seemed like an eternity.

"There. Finished." Hermione said, stepping back.

"I don't see why I had to wear this." Ginny complained, reaching for her dress, which was hanging from the canopy above her bed.

"It's an old fashioned dress. You have to wear one." Hermione explained, grabbing her own dress.

"Besides, it makes your breasts look bigger." Hermione said.

Ginny admired herself in the floor length mirror inside their dorm room.

"You're right." Ginny said, turning from side to side and staring at her reflection.

"Zip me up please?" Hermione asked Ginny. Ginny shuffled over to Hermione and zipped up the back of Hermione's dress. Ginny turned around so Hermione could do the same.

"This dress was a good choice Gin." Hermione said, admiring her friend.

The dress was strapless and fitted around the torso. The actual dress part was wide and billowy from the many layers of fabric underneath. There was a large bow at the base of the zipper that accented the back of the dress.

"Don't forget your mask." Hermione said, handing Ginny a wrapped package. Ginny unfolded the paper covering her mask. It was a simple eye mask in a wonderful iridescent white color. When the light hit it just right, colors of the rainbow shone.

Hermione's new dress was a one shoulder gown that had a slight train to it. Her mask was glittery silver and she wore silver gloves that went up to her elbow. Ginny also had elbow length gloves but hers were white.

"It's almost seven. We should get down there." Hermione said, looking at the clock.

"Right." Ginny said, also glancing at the clock.

They slipped on their shoes and headed down out of their room.

Ron and Harry were standing waiting in the common room.

"Well well, don't you look handsome Ronald!" Hermione said, taking the last couple of stairs with a skip in her step. She reached out for Ron's outstretched hand.

"It's Ronaldo now." Ron purred, causing Hermione to giggle. Harry made a gagging noise. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Ginny." Harry said, nodding to her.

"Harry." Ginny said, nodding back.

"You look wonderful." He told her.

"Nice mask." ginny replied. Harry's mask was very thick and covered a lot of the top half of his face, much like a Zorro mask.

Ron's mask was plain black. It almost looked like a cloth eye mask one would wear to sleep, only with eye holes cut out. Both Harry and Ron's suits were crisp and clean. Ginny thought it wouldn't be long before Ron dripped food down his nice white shirt.

"May I escort you down?" Harry asked Ginny.

She nodded yet again. She took a light hold of Harry's arm as they exited the Gryffindor Tower and headed down to the Great Hall.

There were several other couples making their way down to the Great Hall that they passed, along with some awkward groups of first years.

They reached the Great Hall entryway. Ginny had let go of Harry's arm as they rounded the corner of the last landing of stairs.

"Going to find your date?" Harry asked solemnly.

"Yes." Ginny answered.

"Harry…." She started. "About my date…. It's---"

"It's all right Ginny." Harry said. "Just save one dance for me?" He asked.

Ginny sighed and nodded.

"All right." Ginny said.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione left Ginny on the landing and headed down the last set of stairs before entering the Great Hall.

Ginny lifted part of her skirt off the ground as she made the rest of her way down the stairs. She looked into the Great Hall and saw all the black silk banners hanging along the walls, very similar to the ones that had hung after the TriWizard tournament when Cedric Diggory was being remembered.

"I have to admit…. I'm not disappointed." A voice said behind her. A hand lightly touched her shoulder and a torso pressed itself against her back.

"Is there something in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" was Ginny's reply. Draco coughed multiple times at this, avoiding her stare as Ginny turned around smiling.

"Yes well….. You look….. Well….. Er….. beautiful." Draco whispered the last part, a light pink color rising in his cheeks. Ginny put her hands on her hips.

"Draco Malfoy are you blushing?" She accused.

"No." Draco lied.

Ginny just smiled as she looked at him. His mask was also white, a simple mask that turned up slightly at the edges. His hair had been slicked back and his jacket had a high collar.

He held a hand out to her.

"Shall we?" He asked her. Ginny curtseyed with a giggle.

"Come now, was that necessary?" Draco asked her as he led her into the Great Hall.

"You thought it was cute." Ginny told him.

"All right, it was." Draco admitted.

As they entered the Great Hall, an band was already playing up on the platform where the teachers dinner table usually sat. Students slow danced in the middle of the hall, others sat or stood around round tables that were littered along the walls.

"Draco…. I should probably tell you… Harry-"

"Harry doesn't know I'm your date." Draco answered for her.

"How'd you know?" Ginny asked as Draco let her around the tables along the far side of the wall.

"I had a feeling." He replied. He led her out gracefully out on the dance floor.

"Do you know how to waltz?" He asked her.

"Yes." Ginny replied.

"Good."

He whirled her around and her hands fell into place on his shoulder and in his hand. He led the way as they moved back and forth. They were staying on the far side of the dance floor and it wasn't until Draco gently spun her around did she see why.

She caught a glimpse while she turned of Harry in a corner, being held back firmly by Ron with Hermione gently talking to him, calming him down.

"Oh dear." Ginny said.

"Don't worry about it." Draco whispered her, holding her firmly with the hand that was on her hip.

"He's going to hate me."

"He hates me, not you." Draco said almost lazily as he stepped to and fro.

"We're both at fault here." Ginny sighed, turning her head so when they made a pass further down the dance floor she didn't have to look in their direction again.

The music slowed to a stop, allowing those around to clap for the musicians.

"I've got to get a drink." Ginny said, putting a hand to her forehead.

Draco rustled around in his jacket and held out a silver flask to her. Ginny swatted it away.

"Not what I meant." She said.

"I've got to step out for a moment. I'm sorry." Ginny told Draco before lifting the hem of her dress and walking swiftly from the Great Hall.

She leaned her head against the stone wall outside of the Great Hall doors. Thankfully no one was around. She took off her mask and pinched the bridge of her nose, squeezing her eyes shut.

She knew Hermione had told her she needed to talk to Harry but she kept putting it off. It was her fault Harry was so upset. She should have said something long before now.

But she could no longer avoid it.

"Ginny." A stern voice said beside her, making her jump.

"Harry….. Hello…." Ginny said, a shaky hand covering her heart which was running at a mile a minute.

"Ginny…… What….. The fuck." Harry said.

"Harry I know I should have told you I was going with him but I-"

"You should have told him `no'." He spat.

"He's changed." Ginny nearly cried.

"You've changed." Harry retorted.

"So have you." Ginny shot back.

"Ginny I told you I still loved you and to rethink us and this is how you rethink things?"

"I did rethink things."

"You did? And? Is this your answer?"

There was a long pause.

"I….. I don't know." Ginny stuttered, her hands fiddling with her mask she still held.

"Maybe you need more time to think." Harry said.

She shook her head.

"No…. No I don't Harry."

Harry stood dumbstruck.

"Really Ginny? Why?"

"You can't see why Harry? You're the Boy Who Lived. You defeated Voldemort."

"He killed himself." Harry interrupted.

"Because of you." Ginny started again. "It's been too much for me, these past months. It has been too much for you as well. I want to live my own life. You don't have to be with me to be part of my family, you know that right?"

"Yes." Harry snapped.

"Harry… You were my first love. I'll never forget that. But you're such a different person now…. There's almost something empty about you…."

"Was it just too soon? Asking you to come back to me?" Harry asked.

Ginny sighed and bit her lip, fighting back tears.

"Maybe…. Maybe not….. I can't say." Ginny replied.

"Why him?" Harry inquired.

"He's changed."

"My arse." Harry snorted.

"His family has little connections now. There is no more Voldemort. He's trying to be normal. He`s nice when you get to know him."

Harry snorted again.

It was quiet between the two but music and laughter could be heard back inside the Great Hall. After a moment, Harry shook his head slightly before looking her straight in the eye.

"I'm not letting go Ginny." Harry informed her.

Ginny took a shuddering breath before replying.

"Then you will be holding on for a long time." she said before brushing past him and walking briskly back into the Great Hall.

~*~*~*~

Draco was sitting anxiously at a table near the Hall's entrance. He had hoped to eavesdrop in on what Harry and Ginny were talking about. He had taken his current seat after he saw Harry practically run off after her. However, he didn't hear anything. Ron had shot him a look across the room and Hermione kept glancing in the direction of the doors.

After a few moments Ginny huffed back into the Great Hall, the billowing of her dress rustling as she walked.

Draco stood up to follow her, his chair scraping against the stone floor. He caught up with her as she had made her way to the buffet table.

Ginny poured herself a glass of punch and was about to take a sip when she saw Draco heading her way. She made a `gimme' motion at him with her hand, eyeing his jacket pocket.

"No." Draco told her, shaking his head.

"Come on!" Ginny practically whined. She finished her punch and discarded the cup in a nearby trash cauldron.

"Not tonight." He said, shaking his head again.

"This is the worst Halloween ever." Ginny sighed. Draco frowned.

"I don't mean you." She told him.

"Good. Because I wanted to talk to you." Draco said.

If he was going to make an attempt at turning around this night for Ginny, he had to do it now.

"Good or bad?" Ginny asked.

"Good. I hope. It's up to you." Draco said, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"I hope for my sake its good."

Draco held his hand out to her again and she gingerly took it.

As Draco led her back out of the Great Hall, Ginny waved to Neville and his date, Luna Lovegood. They were crazily dancing to a slow song, much to the distaste of the couples slow dancing around them.

"Do the Hippogriff Neville! Come on you can do it!" Ginny heard Luna call over the music.

Draco led the way down the hallway past the doors to the grounds.

"Are we going to brew a potion? And by potion I mean hard liquor?" Ginny asked as they passed the potions classroom.

"What is it with you getting drunk tonight?" Draco muttered as he pulled her along. They came to a dead end.

"Frankenstein." Draco told the stone wall. Ginny giggled.

"What? It's Halloween." Draco told her as the door to the Slytherin Common room opened.

Draco led her down a small flight of stone stairs before sitting down on an antique looking couch. Ginny bunched her dress together the best that she could and sat down next to him.

"What's this about?" Ginny asked, staring warily around at the eerily empty common.

"I know you probably don't want to tell me what happened between you and Potter out in the hallway…." Draco started. Ginny nodded, her hands twisting in her lap.

"But….. Ever since school started….. We've changed. We both know it. And as crazy as all this is…. I don't want this moment to ever end. Everything's nothing without you."

Ginny bit her lip and the corners of her mouth turned up in a little smile.

"And I'd wait here forever just to see you smile." Draco told her seeing her face.

"It's true. I am nothing without you." He said.

"You really feel that way? About little old me? Ginny Weasley? Dirt poor Ginny Weasley?" Ginny asked.

Draco swallowed hard and nodded.

"That's so sweet." Ginny said, lightly touching Draco's knee.

"With you, all the streets where I walked alone, with nowhere to go, have come to an end. It was as if you fell from the sky, in front of my eyes, when I didn't know what I was looking to find."

Ginny sniffed, trying to hold back tears.

"My life…." Draco started. He took a deep breath. "Through it all, I've made my mistakes, I've stumbled and fallen. But I mean these words…."

"I want you to know, with everything, I won't let you go. These words are my heart and soul. I'll hold onto this moment. I'll bleed my heart out to show…… That I won't let go."

Ginny let out a laugh. Men sure were eager to hold onto her.

"I don't want you to let go." Ginny admitted, wiping a tear from her face.

"In that case…" Draco said, shifting in his seat and reaching into his pocket.

"Draco…." Ginny said wary as Draco took out a small black box from his pocket.

"Would you accept this?" Draco asked hurridly, practically shoving the box at her.

Ginny looked at Draco concerned, then at the box, then back at Draco.

She reached out slowly for the box and plucked it from his open hand as if it was going to bite. She opened the lid slowly and peeked inside.

Lying on a black silk pillow was a very ornate silver broach with some sort of crest imprinted on it. There were several green stones, emeralds she suspected, decorating the four different sections of the crest.

"It's my family crest." Draco explained as Ginny squinted at the broach, trying to identify the picture.

"It's beautiful!" Ginny said, lifting it out of the box and turning it around to examine the clasp.

"It's a bit old fashioned…" Draco said as Ginny admired it.

"Would you wear it?" Draco asked.

"Is this like a promise ring?" Ginny asked. Draco winced.

"Sort of." Draco replied.

"Which means….." Ginny pressed.

"Which means you're with me…. And that I'm taking what we have seriously."

Ginny fumbled with the clasp, trying to put it on the front of her dress.

"Of course I'll wear it. Thank you." Ginny said, leaning forward on the couch to give Draco a peck on the cheek.

"I'm glad you like it." He said. "Would you like to head back to the dance now?"

Ginny shook her head.

"I'd rather hide out here than get glared at the rest of the night." Ginny admitted.

"Ditto." Draco agreed. After a moment sitting on the couch, Draco stood up and held out his hand to Ginny.

"Shall we?" He asked, a smile on his face.

"Where are we going?" Ginny asked as she took his hand.

Draco just smiled.

~*~*~*~

Author's Note- Where are they going? Who knows? Oh wait- I DO! :) Well, Harry and Ginny had their confrontation and the dreaded black box of doom was revealed. But I'm not finished with the broach so please stay tuned to find out what happens. Sorry this took a while to get out. I was working a lot, had a small vacation, caught a cold, and had some minor writers block. At least it ended up being a lot longer than expected so that's a bonus, right? Please review! I appreciate them all! And thanks for reading!

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