Fifth year for Ginny Weasley had started out rather miserably. The previous year she had followed after Harry to the Department of Mysteries with their friends to go and save Sirius Black from being tortured to death by You-Know-Who. It was horrible to discover that it had been a trap set up by the aforementioned villain in hopes of luring Harry to retrieve a prophecy without exposing himself to the wizarding world. The worst of it was that Sirius did end up dying that night and Gnny knew Harry could not get over it. Sirius had been the closest thing that Harry had left to his parents, and now he was gone.

Watching Harry's depression was hard. Ginny loved Harry very much, but her silly school girl crush had faded years ago and she had been dating a few other boys from Gryffindor and only really saw Harry as a dear friend.

The first of the year had started out rather normally, but that didn't last too long. Malfoy was up to something and it was very difficult trying to figure out what the little trouble maker was trying to accomplish. Ginny had noticed him linger around the wall that led to the room of requirements quite a bit. Every time she demanded his business he had insulted her before stalking off in a foul mood. If Malfoy was any other person she would've felt sympathy for him, but he was still an arrogant git who sneered down at her every chance he got.

That year Ginny was spending more and more time with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, but it still seemed as though they were treating her as though she were the same eleven year old who had accidentally set a deadly basilisk on the school. It was rather frustrating for her and she wished they would see her for her maturity.

It was just after Thanksgiving that something really terrible happened. Katie Bell had been attacked. Somehow she had gotten her hands on a dark artifact that had placed her into a coma after nearly killing her. Ginny knew exactly who Harry and the other two suspected and she was sure that their suspicions were right. Ginny desperately wanted to prove to them that she could handle herself and made it her personal mission to figure out what it was that Malfoy was really getting up too.

It was one particularly cold wintery afternoon that Ginny was rushing down the halls trying to catch up to Collin Creevy to give him a book back that she had borrowed for a homework assignment, that she had just happened to dart down the hall that had Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Normally students of all sorts avoided this hall so they didn't have to run into the horrible and wailing ghost, but Ginny was in a rush and this was the fastest way.

As she was bolting down and about ready to pass the bathroom, she heard sobs coming from within it. She would've ignored them as it was probably just Myrtle, but she heard Myrtle speaking in a soft and consoling tone. That meant that there was someone else in the bathroom. Ginny decided Collin didn't really need his book so desperately to finish his homework assignment that she couldn't investigate who was crying.

As she quietly approached the door she was even more surprised. On the other side it sounded as though it were a boy crying. Who in the world would be in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom crying? Ginny couldn't think of a single boy she knew that would take refuge in the bathroom. She could no longer contain her curiosity as she gently opened up the door.

Quite slowly Gnny pushed her head into the bathroom and was startled even more at the sight. If she thought the crying stranger was odd, looking at a broken and defenseless Draco Malfoy had her frozen where she stood. Never before had Ginny thought that Malfoy had a heart, let alone be able to cry. No matter how much she hated him, and no matter whatever he had donor was planning to do, he was in obvious pain and Ginny's heart went out to him.

For all the galleons in the world Ginny was unable to move from her spot as she stared at Malfoy, even when he looked up at her and his expression hardened. Not even Malfoy deserved the anguish and pain she had just seen him in.

The Dark Lord was furious with the Malfoy's due to Lucius's messing up at the Ministry the last year. His revenge was to send Draco on a suicide mission. Of course, that wasn't his words exactly, but that was the meaning behind everything.

On his 16th birthday, Draco Malfoy received the dark mark, the symbol was hidden by his school robes. Only a few select Slytherins knew about the mark. It wasn't exactly a choice, it was a family right. He was a Malfoy and he had to live up to the name. His first mission from the Dark Lord was to kill Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts.

The idea of killing somewhat was a bit exciting. But having to kill one of the most powerful wizards in the world? Draco was scared. Of course, he'd never tell anyone. He was a Malfoy. Cool, calm, and collected. Or at least, he tried to be. While searching for a way to let the other Death Eaters into Hogwarts, he came across the ghost of Moaning Myrtle.

Draco was taught not to cry at a young age. Lucius said it was a sign of weakness. Narcissa secretly still let him. He cried to his mother the night he got his mission. They both were scared for his life. Stumbling upon Myrtle, he found a friend. Not really a friend, but someone to comfort him in his time of need.

It started off by crying to her every other week, but now it was almost daily. He was going crazy. He was stressed, scared, and broken. He had become paler than ever, he didn't sleep and he almost never ate. All he knew to do was cry to Myrtle. He couldn't go to his friends, they would life. All he had was a ghost girl.

"There, there." Cooed Myrtle. "It's gonna be alright."

Draco sobbed hard, curled up on the floor. His robes were lose around his body and his face was in his hands. The ghost floated next to him, humming softly as he cried. Once we was finished, he opened his eyes and sat up. There stood the young Weasley girl. The little red head that followed Potter around.

He immediately tried to hide the fact he had been crying, although the girl had already saw him. "Get out of here, Weasley." He shot, coldly. His voice wasn't as demanding or loud as it usually was. It was obvious he wasn't the same Draco Malfoy he had been years before.

Ginny's soft brown eyes caught Malfoy's much iced grey ones and held his gaze. She watched as he tried to put his mask of indifference and arrogance back on so she wouldn't know he had been in tears moments before, but they both knew better. She heard his icy and spiteful words and was unaffected by them for the first time. Somehow it all made sense to her. Malfoy was as vulnerable as everyone else and he felt emotion. It was a strange reality that Ginny ha stumbled into and she wasn't sure how to react.

Before whenever Malfoy had taunted her or her family it was easy to snap back at him. Teir hatred was mutual and several generations old. The Weasley family and Malfoy family line were both very old and respected. It wasn't until a couple generations ago that things had changed. Never had anyone ever thought there might be pity between the two or sympathy, but as Ginny saw Malfoy so helpless on the ground, she wished desperately that she could help him. He looked just as scared as she sometimes felt. In fact, he looked just as scared as she had when her mind had been caught up in the dream of Tom Riddle.

Ginny said nothing for a moment and just sighed as he stared at her with hate. She understood why he must hate her. Ginny didn't think anyone had ever seen him so helpless and defenseless. She wasn't quite sure what to say, so she decided to let it go since he didn't seem like he was in good condition for fighting.

"All right Malfoy, I'm sorry." She said in a simple and soft voice before she turned around and walked away. 

The fear she had seen in his eyes was the same fear she was familiar with. No matter how heroic and amazing Harry was, Ginny knew he would never understand or believe her, bu that didn't matter. For the first time in her life Ginny felt as though she understood Draco Malfoy on a level nobody else could and she promised herself she wouldn't tell a soul what she had seen.

Draco stood up and looked at himself in the mirror. He looked more of a wreck than he did the last time he had broke down. He prayed all this would soon be over with. That he would, could, complete the task he was given and bring honor back to the Malfoy family. Nobody knew how hard it was to be the son of strict pureblood family. It was enough to kill a man.

He washed his face and picked up his wand, sticking it in the front pocket of his jeans. He pulled the robes down over his arm to hide the mark. He had to go talk to the girl, threaten her was more like it. He said his goodbyes to Myrtle and ran out of the bathroom. His hair was a bit messy but he could easily make up an excuse about that, saying some little Ravenclaw wanted him and who was he to not grant the girl her wish?

He looked both ways and noticed the petite redhead was almost to the stairs. He jogged to catch up to her. He had learned threats didn't get you too far when it came to some people, the Weasley family was one that didn't seem bothered by his threats. He was a few steps behind her when he called out.

"Red!" He called, his voice deep and mature yet a bit hoarse. He cussed under his breath. What was her name? Jenny? Jennifer? Jamie? He closed his eyes, thinking. Ginny! "Ginny," He corrected himself, leaning against the wall behind her. "Come here for a minute." It wasn't a request. It was a demand.

Ginny hadn't really been expecting anything out of Malfoy, except perhaps a hex or two for intruding on him. She honestly hadn't cared very much about that when she had turned her back on him. She had walked down the hall lost in her own thoughts as she had completely forgotten about giving Collin his book back. She was nearly to the stairs when she heard footsteps behind her and the sound of Malfoy's voice.

She was a little surprised when he called her red, but it wasn't enough to make her stop. There wasn't anything she wanted from him, so she decided to keep moving. It wasn't until he called her name out and demanded she come back over to him that she did turn around to stare at him. Since when had he bothered to learn her name? She was the youngest Weasley, a nobody in his eyes, so why did he use her name and not some stupid nickname him and his cronies had thought up.

Ginny was tempted to turn her back on him again and walk away, but her curiosity caught her and she walked back over to him. He was a good half head taller then her and up close he looked much more thin than she had ever thought he would be. There were faint circles around his eyes as though he had not gotten much sleep. She wondered why the blonde Slytherin seemed so stressed.

"What is it Malfoy?" she asked rather annoyed. "If your worried about me telling on you, forget it, I won't. I highly doubt anyone would believe me anyway." Her tone was a little clipped as she spoke. Ginny didn't really feel like standing in front of Malfoy right then. He made her feel small, as though he could pick her up and toss her down the stairs without a second thought despite how thin he seemed to be.

Draco smelled faintly of alcohol and vanilla mixed. An odd scent, but still. He looked down at the girl and sighed a bit. She had already said what he was going to ask. Don't tell anyone. He didn't want the whole school to know that the Draco Malfoy was in the bathroom crying to a ghost. He looked at her for a moment, thinking deeply on what to threatened her with or say. He was blank.

Never before had he been speechless. Especially around a Weasley. He folded his arms across his chest and sighed a bit. "Look, just don't tell anyone." He said quietly. No threat, no names, just a simple request. "And don't come back down here." He finished, attempting to give her one of his famous glares. He couldn't.

He was too tired to think about hexing her or anything of that sort. He was too tired. He needed to sleep but sleeping wasted too much time.

"Are you really that deaf?" she asked him a little incredulously. "I just told you I wasn't going to tell anyone, so I don't need to telling from you what I've already decided on." Ginny looked him over and shook her head as he told her to not come down there again. "I'm not going to make you promises, because this isn't your school." Her eyes blazed with defiance. She was so sick of everyone telling her what she could and couldn't do. Albeit this was a little different with Malfoy, but it still bothered her that he was trying to boss her around. "I'll go where I want to, okay?" she looked him daringly in the eye and saw the tiredness reflecting through his icy exterior.

Ginny was going to turn and walk away, but something held her back. He looked so helpless and exhausted as though he was running out of ideas to something very important he had to accomplish. "You don't have to be the bad guy Malfoy, you really don't." She spoke earnestly before she turned from him and walked back towards the stairs. She looked over her shoulder. "You really should get some sleep." The true concern she had suddenly started to feel for him shown through those words before she disappeared down the steps once more to go find Collin and give him his book back.

Draco wore a frown. Who was she to snap at him? He was THE Draco Malfoy. He was furious. But he didn't feel like snapping at her or anything along those lines. He just turned and walked toward the dungeon. His mind was full of stuff, as usual. But there was something new, a little redhead Gryffindor. She had changed so how. And how old was she now? Fourteen? Fifteen?

He walked into the common room and sat on the couch, propping his feet up on the arm. No one had ever talked like that to him before without him cursing or hexing them. How come he didn't snap back at her? 'I was just tired', the Malfoy heir thought to himself, laying his head on the other arm of the couch.

She even founded concerned about him. Worried almost. He had only heard that tone in his mother's and in Snape's voice before. They were the only two who seemed worried about him, ever. His father just pushed him through everything. Of course he cared about his only son. But Malfoy's are trained to never show emotion.

Draco closed his icy gray hues and fell asleep, the last thought of his mind seemed to be a certain little Gryffindor.

After Ginny had found Collin she headed back up to Gryffindor tower. She wasn't quite sure what to do or think. She had told Malfoy she wouldn't tell on him, but Ginny wasn't sure if she could stay quiet. Why had he been crying? Why hadn't he hexed or jinxed her after everything she had said to him? Why was it that he seemed to consume her thoughts? It was all so silly really. He was the stupid git he had ever been, but then why was she worried about him?

"Are you all right Ginny?" Hermione's voice pulled Ginny from her thoughts as she sat down in one of the lumpy arm chairs.

"I'm just fine, why?" Ginny realized that Hermione would hound her for the truth unless she thought up something quick. "I suppose I am a little stressed since I still have a foot worth of parchment to fill for Snape's essay." This of course was a complete lie as she a lady had her homework done, but it was the only excuse Hermione would ever believe.

"Oh, well do you want me to help you?" Hermione offered generously.

"Oh no! I think I'll just head to the library and finish it there." Ginny quickly leapt to her feet and headed to grab her book bag before marching back out of the tower. She really had no other choice but to head to the library. She didn't feel like going there, but if Hermione found out she hadn't ended up there for at least a short while, Ginny knew she'd never hear the end of it.

Draco's nap only lasted half an hour before Zabini's voice woke him.

"Malfoy! Malfoy!" He hissed, shaking the male roughly.

Draco's eyes snapped open. "The hell you want?" He shot, sitting up and stretching.

"We have a paper due for Slughorn tomorrow."

Draco cursed under his breath and walked up to his private dorm. Being a Malfoy, he got whatever he wanted. He didn't want to share a room with other imbeciles. He would rather have privacy but when he brought, uh, friends back. He looked through his bags and found his potions book. Potions use to be his best subject, mainly because Snape was the professor.

Now with Snape teaching DADA, Slughorn took over potions. He wasn't as easy on the Slytherin's as Snape had been. He trekked up to the library and took a seat in the corner, he began to write on the parchment with his quill and then stopped. Why should he go his homework? It's not like it mattered. He was going to be one of the Dark Lord's favorites after his year was over. If he wasn't dead.

His icy eyes landed on the redhead across the library. He cursed silently. Why the hell was she there? He couldn't escape her. He wasn't about to talk to her. He just laid his head down on the table, hoping to continue with his nap from earlier before he was so rudely interrupted.

Ginny took a seat next to one of the large book shelves in the library and pulled her potions essay out. She figured that she'd go over it while she was there to make sure there weren't any corrections to be made before she left. She had never really liked potions much up until that year.no matter how good you were, you weren't good enough unless you were in Slytherin. She had hated Snape's as a teacher as she felt he was stifling her natural ability. Ginny had been right, the moment she realized Slughorn wasn't house biased, Ginny climbed the ladder until she was top in her class.

As Ginny sat there, she bit her lip as she realized a mistake in her paper. She sighed and stood to her feet before looking around the library. Her head fell upon Malfoy who had his head resting against the table in what seemed to be a nap. She wondered why he ws even there if he was going to sleep. Why not just sleep in his dormitory? The library wasn't always the most quiet of places.

For a moment her eyes lingered on the blonde Slytherin, but she forced herself to tear them away. It wasn't u tl she realized she had to go passed his table to get a book that she groaned. The book she needed to correct her mistake was just passed Malfoy's table.

Ginny walked as quietly and slowly as possible as she approached Malfoy's table. She hoped he really was asleep so she didn't have to talk to him. It had been rare enough for their almost cordial meaning earlier. She wasn't expecting any sort of curteousy from him again. Ginny groaned as she realized yet again he was further in her path. Ginny was a very skinny, though shapely, girl, but she wasn't that skinny.

"Do you mind moving over just a bit?" she asked quietly so as not to disturb the stern librarian.

Draco was just about to fall asleep when he heard her voice. "Can you leave me the hell alone? Can't you tell when people are sleeping!" He snapped. Lack of sleep and stress made Malfoy much more irritable than usual. If that was possibly. The librarian shot them both glances and put her finger over her lips to signal to them to 'shush'.

He ran his long, thin fingers through his hair and scooted over a bit. "Happy now?" He snapped once more before grabbing his bag. He used it as a pillow, although it was quite uncomfortable. He closed his eyes and attempted to sleep once more. But he couldn't.

Once more the little Gryffindor had invaded his thoughts. He could smell her. He wasn't sure what she smelled like, but it was comforting scent. She was quite a pretty girl, no wonder Potter kept her around. He shook those thoughts from his head. He really must be suffering from sleep deprivation. He called a Weasley pretty. He was disgusted with himself at the moment.

Ginny couldn't help but roll her eyes. Malfoy had ceased to be intimidating quite w few years ago. "Well if you haven't noticed, this is the library Malfoy, not your dormitory." She hissed back as Madame Pince looked at them sternly and shushed them. Ginny was rather irritated with Malfoy's attitude. The little ferret had plenty of other places he could go sleep. Once again it seemed like today just wasn't Malfoy's day, because as luck would have it, he scooted over just enough for Ginny to squeeze by. Most people would think he was being terribly rude, but for Malfoy, he was actually being pretty polite.

"Well I'd be happier if you'd get more sleep at night so you'd stop snapping at me." She hissed once more in his ear before she pushed her way passed. Ginny grabbed the book she was looking for before she came back to the small little aisle that had been so thoughtfully provided to her by none other than Draco Malfoy. As she tried squeezing her way back through, her foot stumbled against the chair leg and she leaned against him slightly to regain her balance. It was as though she had been shocked by something. The sensation wasn't entirely unwelcome, but from where it had originated unsettled her,

Ginny didn't say a word as she rushed back to her table with the book in hand and put her back to Malfoy. Why was the boy being so strange? Why did Ginny have to suddenly care?

Draco couldn't help but smirk as she brushed against him. Time to mess with her head a bit. Draco yawned and stood up, grabbing his back and standing up. He walked over to her table and put his hand on her book, covering the page she had started to read. He looked straight into her eyes. He wondered why he had suddenly developed an interest into the fifteen year old.

He was Draco Malfoy, no woman or girl could resist his good looks and charm. Not even the little red head, or he hoped she wouldn't be able to. He yawned once more. Maybe he was trying to get back at Potter for everything. Or maybe it was just to satisfy his playboy ways. It would be a huge ego boost knowing he had seduced Potter's little girl toy.

"I know you liked touching me." He whispered so no one could hear him. His voice had a seductive tone, sounding way different than usual.

Ginny was focused almost completely on the potions book she had picked up. She really hadn't noticed a certain blonde get up from his table and come over to her until he had placed his hand over the words she was attempting to read. She felt irritation flare inside of her almost instantly. How dare the little twit interrupt her reading! She frowned and looked up into his steely eyes as he leaned close and whispered to her. It honestly made Ginny begin to giggle.

"Oh you must be really exhausted if you think I'll br the next tramp to jump in your bed. Are you not even realizing who you are talking to?" she looked at him with pity before shaking her head. Why in the world would Draco Malfoy be trying to seduce her? "I'm very sorry if my grubby hands ruined your cloak." Her tone took a slightly bitter tone to it as she glared up at him.

In all honesty Ginny wasn't quite sure what to think after the shock of brushing against Malfoy, but she wasn't about to let him know that so he could taunt her further. She had a wicked idea suddenly come into her mind. She stood to her feet and looked him squarely in the eye.

"How do I know you just came over here because you liked me touching you? Why would you even bother to come over if you weren't the one who enjoyed the brief contact?" she raised her brow at him daringly.

Draco smirked. Let the games begin. "Who said I didn't like you touching me?" His looked pleased with himself. "I'm not too tired to know when a female wants me. It's a talent." He said simply, propping his meet up in a chair next to the girl. "Since when do you read anyway? Don't you have the mudblood to do that for you? She does that for the Chosen One and your git of a brother." Malfoy said simply.

He knew she would probably take offense to how he insulted her friends. But he loved it when women got mad. It made him feel more achieved than when he managed to seduce them. He removed his hand from the book and ran it through his hair before returning it to the table, tapping his fingers. He wasn't use to the fact that a Gryffindor was standing up to him, literally. She was about his height now that he was slumped in the chair.

Ginny hadn't actually been expecting that comment from him. Though reality probably meant that he hadn't enjoyed the touch at all and was only here trying to get under her skin. Though she was feeling rather bothered by his nerve. Perhaps he had enjoyed her touch, but what would that even mean? He was nothing good, and it was obvious he just enjoyed toying around with the emotions of a girl regardless of who her parents were or what house she was in. Well two could play at that game.

"And thus the ferret shows truly how conceited he can be." She mocked him and began to put her things away into her bag. She didn't need to put up with this from him. She managed to snatch the potions book as he removed his hand. Ginny was insulted by his comment, more than she would care to admit, but she wasn't going to let that get to her.

"At least I have friends." She snider back. "And we both know I'm better at potions the you are, so bugger off." She spoke coolly as she finished packing up her bag. She didn't even say good bye to Malfoy as she began to walk out of the library and away from the irritating twit.

Draco grabbed his bag and swiftly walked after her. With his long legs he easily caught up and grabbed her wrist, not too roughly but tight enough so he can't pull away. He chuckled a bit at the shocked look on her face. "Let's get this over with, red." He said lowly. "You can't get me off my mind, I can't get you off mine. Let's snog and move on." He said simply.

His gray eyes burned into her. He wasn't found of the idea, but he wanted her out of his head. He had other things to do than think of her. Relationships should be the last thing on his mind at the moment. He needed to get things done to earn family redemption. He waited for her response, a smirk on the face.

Draco Malfoy had a habit to leave women breathless, even if it wasn't in the right way. Snogging Potter's girlfriend would be the easiest, and funniest way to get to Potter. If he distracted Potter, he wouldn't have to worry too much about being caught in his plan.

Ginny wasn't in the mood to put up with Malfoy anymore as he caught up and grabbed her wrist to stop her. She whirled around and glared harshly at him as he said he couldn't get her off his mind and that they should just snog and get it over with. Ginny had never liked Malfoy's type, and she certainly had never liked him. Just because her body tingled at his touch didn't mean she wanted to go snog him.

"Conceited and a pig," she glowered at him and tried to pull her wrist free. He held onto her tightly, but not so tightly that it was painful. She tried tugging again and felt the panic and anger boil up inside of her. "Let me go Malfoy, you're the last person I want to kiss. You may have good looks and you may charm every other girl into snogging you and snagging you, but not me. Leave me alone." Ginny glared darkly at him. It seemed a little obvious he wasn't about to let her go.

"Who ever said I couldn't get you off my mind?" Ginny knew the only way for him to let her go was to mess with his head. "I think you spend way to much time thinking too highly of yourself." She stated as she leaned in close to him. There wasn't anyone in the hall, so Ginny wasn't too worried about being seen.

Ginny leaned her head in so close that their lips were almost touching. "I don't care how much you do want me Malfoy, because I definitely don't want you." She spoke in a fiery whisper as she ignored the tingle that ran down her spine. As they stood close she felt his grip on her wrist tighten. Right when she knew he was going to lean in and close the distance, she wrenched away from him and escaped down the hall as quickly as she could.

"Filthy bloodtraitor!" Draco yelled at her as she walked away. What woman in their right mind would walk away from him. He was furious, to say the least. Potter must've soiled her brain with rubbish. He knew the young girl liked being close to him, he could tell from her eyes. He need women more then most sixteen year olds. He was the Hogwart's bachelor that most women wanted, anyway.

Of course he though highly of himself. He was a Malfoy. Malfoy's were the best. That fact had been pounded into his head since he was born. Draco stormed back to the Slytherin common room, his face red. He wanted to scream. He wanted to hit somebody. That Weasley girl. He wanted to slap the broad right across the face. How dare someone like her talk to him like that. Nobody talked to Draco Lucius Malfoy like that, especially not a Weasley.

"What's wrong, Malfoy?" piped Goyle from the other side of the room.

Draco walked over and sat in one of the green velvet armchairs, located by the fireplace. He propped his feet up on the table and tapped his hand on his thigh. He was in deep though, ignoring his croonies numerous question. His grey eyes lit up as he sat forward a bit.

"Boys," He grinned. "we have a new task at hand." He explained his idea to his followers, a smirk on his face. He had time to worry about the Dark Lord's task after he finished his own. And that was revenge on Ginny Weasley. She needed to learn that nobody, especially not her, could treat him that way. He was Draco Malfoy, after all.