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By seven the music had started and the hired help was gliding around with starters. The whole ballroom floor was covered with colorful groups of witches and wizards dressed to impress. The talk was flowing easily, but it was easy to understand, from the formal tone and the implied but unsaid words of any conversation, that the crowd was mainly Slytherin. A few minutes past, however, both the music and the chatter died down as the doors opened and Draco strode in with a beautiful redhead by his side.

Ginny heard the noise of quite a lot of people through the closed doors. She felt her stomach turn, and gripped Draco's hand extra hard. He smiled overbearingly at her, and motioned for the doors to be opened. The moment they were, the murmur of the crowd died. For several moments the room was completely silent, but as they started to descend the stairs down to the ballroom it started up again, though with a different tone than before.

She heard both "Weasley," and "Gryffindor," being mentioned among the whispered conversations. As Draco led her down she kept her head high, and when Lucius Malfoy came towards them she didn't turn her eyes away from his challenging glance. Lucius looked ready to kill, but was still trying to keep himself cool and collected. As he approached them he put up a composed face, and the gleam in his eyes was the only thing betraying his anger.

"Can I speak to you for a second?" he asked Draco with more ice in his voice than Ginny had ever heard even Draco use.

"Whatever you have to say, I'm sure you can say it in front of Ginny," Draco said lightly.

Ginny noticed his deliberate usage of her first name, a thing which seemed to finally unsettle Lucius' cool mood.

"What is she doing here?" he said, clearly conveying his anger.

"She's my date," Draco said, seemingly relaxed.

"Find another one," Lucius said sharply. "She's not worthy of a Malfoy."

Ginny felt flushed, but this time because of anger. To her surprise, and amusement, Draco came to her defense.

"How so?" he said with a playful smirk. His gaze was serious and challenging, however.

"I'm here with one of the most beautiful girls at Hogwarts, and if that's not enough, she's completely pureblood," he continued. "Will you make a scene here and now, father, over my date? Over a girl with no flaws?"

Ginny saw Lucius battling with the urge to hit his son over the head, but she knew he was, like Draco had counted on, very aware that the attention of every person in the room was on them. Finally the anger in his eyes turned to icy malice. He said nothing more, merely gave Draco the most frightening look Ginny had ever seen. She felt Draco's muscles stiffening for a second, and she guessed there would be hell to pay for him when everyone was gone from the manor. Draco still managed to put forth a victorious smirk as his father turned his back on them and went over to his wife.

Ginny wasn't sure whether or not to feel flattered by Draco's small speech. On the one hand, he had said she was among the prettiest girls at Hogwarts, which she probably would have blushed to hear had she not been so flushed with anger already. On the other hand, however, he had placed much emphasis on her "pure blood", which she was almost offended by. As if she wouldn't matter if her ancestors hadn't chosen to marry wizards and witches. Of course she knew it was something Draco's father put much weight on, and so it would be a natural argument in the face of him, but still. It made Ginny feel slightly used.

As Lucius left, Ginny felt Draco pull her closer. He put his arm around her waist and lowered his mouth to her ear.

"You're doing great," he said, and despite herself she felt cheered up. "You've got the whole room staring at you, and that's not just because we just had a confrontation with my father. See Zabini over there?" he pointed discretely, and Ginny looked over and saw Blaise Zabini quickly avert his eyes. "He's been ogling you since we came out. Every guy in here envies me my date."

Ginny smiled, partly flattered, but there was also a slyness to the smile. She leaned back into Draco's arm, and turned towards him.

"Well, can you see Parkinson over there?" she asked. Draco looked and saw Pansy Parkinson; not diverting her eyes whatsoever as he looked at her. She did the exact opposite and kept staring at the two of them, her eyes so filled with poison you'd think they could strike you right down.

"Now she envies me my date," Ginny continued. "And she is definitely not staring at us for the same reason as Zabini."

Draco laughed softly. "No," he chuckled, pulling her even closer. Ginny drew a sharp breath, enjoying the feel of him against her back.

"Although in that dress, I think she envies you even without your date," a voice said behind them.

Blaise Zabini had come over and was eyeing Ginny with great interest. As both of them turned, Draco gave a bored sigh, and Ginny stepped out from his arms. Blaise took two drinks from a waiter passing by with a tray of them and handed one to Ginny. Draco gave a short laugh, and snatched one for himself before the waiter left.

"A toast to your beauty," Blaise said, still not taking his eyes off Ginny.

She felt uncomfortable, but also rather flattered. She thought she heard Draco mutter "suck up", and had to suppress a smile. She didn't say anything, but did honor Blaise's toast by raising her glass and taking a sip. Blaise did the same.

"A dance?" he asked, still looking only at her.

She looked at Draco, who gave an apparently amused headshake, and then a shrug. Blaise took her drink and held both of them towards Draco. He, however, merely glanced at them, and then looked away, taking a sip of his own drink. Ginny found the whole play between the two of them interesting - and also a little funny. It was obviously a fight for some sort of power. She had never had two guys quarrelling over her - because it was a form of quarrelling, a Slytherin way of doing it - and it felt rather nice, especially when this were two of the school's most attractive guys. Over Blaise's shoulder she could see Pansy Parkinson's look becoming, if possible, even more filled with hate.

In the end Blaise lost the fight over the glasses, and just put them on the tray of another passing waiter before leading Ginny out on the dance floor. Not many couples were out there yet - Ginny assumed there would be more after the food had been served and eaten - so they had a lot of space to move in.

Blaise was, Ginny found out after just a few moments, a great dancer. He spun her effortlessly around the floor, not coming close to any of the other couples. Her dress looked splendid, she thought, swirling about her in big swipes.

She managed a glance at Draco, but he seemed quite untroubled by her leaving. He had made his way over to one of the small tables at the end of the room, chatting with a beautiful girl Ginny thought was Ravenclaw and an equally good looking girl Ginny thought she had seen in the Beauxbatons group her third year.

When Blaise took the opportunity of sliding his hand down from between her shoulder blades to her lower back, Ginny found it was time to return from the dance. She made her excuses and made her way back to the table Draco was sitting at. She made it there just in time to see the dark-haired Ravenclaw give a sparkling laugh, while placing her hand over Draco's.

"You are so funny," Ginny heard her say smilingly.

"He is, isn't he," Ginny said as she came over. She made sure to stand right behind Draco, her hands resting on his shoulders, and was pleased to see the dark-haired beauty withdraw her hand quite quickly. Ginny felt rather than saw Draco's smirk, but he didn't remark in any other way her display of marking territory, which she was grateful for.

Instead he informed, "I think they'll be serving the food soon," and got up from his seat.

"Jealous?" he asked when they had gone a few steps, his smirk still constant.

"No more than you were," she replied quickly, but had to look down.

The ball was, in fact, far less unpleasant than Ginny had thought. Of course Pansy kept shooting her looks that made her very careful not to get close to her. She also had a run in with Lucius Malfoy, where the short whispered conversation left her feeling quite worthless. He had a way with words, Lucius did. She tried not to show her distress as Draco came back to her, but didn't think she succeeded. He gracefully said nothing, though.

Several aspects made up for the unpleasant elements. She danced with more boys than she'd ever thought she would. Some of them were from Hogwarts, and a few were even Slytherin, but she also met guys from other countries and other schools. Apparently the Malfoy family had ties beyond England.

Draco didn't seem to be in lack of female admirers, and spent much time with other girls. Ginny had to admit to herself that she didn't like it, but tried not to show. What made her feel okay about it were the looks she felt Draco give her when she was dancing or chatting with some gawking boy. Neither of them mentioned the other's quite apparent jealousy a second time, though.

She had also had a quite pleasant time with Draco as they had stepped out on the balcony leading out from the ballroom for some fresh air. The air was crisp and clean, and it was snowing slightly, with big snowflakes sailing slowly through the air. There were fairies lighting up the balcony, as the dusk slowly descended into night time.

She had stood by the railing, looking out at the garden with its big trees, now covered by a blanket of snow, and for a second they had both forgotten who they were. Malfoy had stepped up behind her and placed one hand on the railing beside her and the other around her waist. She had leaned back against him, resting her head on his chest. It only lasted for a second before they both realized who the other was and pulled apart. Still, if Ginny had to pick a favorite moment from the ball, that had to be it.

The clock was ticking towards midnight when Draco was again asked to dance for who knows what time by a blushing blonde. He smiled gracefully and accepted, giving the girl a look Ginny was starting to recognize. She felt sorry for the girl as her knees were probably feeling pretty unstable by now. Ginny's heart did still do an uncomfortable twitch as Draco moved away, but she was happy this girl was shy and not the most attractive in the room. Throughout the day she'd found that this was far from Draco's type.

Ginny herself had just sat down after a rather physically demanding dancing session with a cute Swedish guy, and so when Draco left she decided she'd go out in the hall for some air and a short break from the crowd of the ballroom. The hall was much cooler, and she sank gratefully down in a loveseat by one of the doors, but her bliss was interrupted by a high shrilling voice.

"So how does it feel to be queen of the ball?" Pansy Parkinson said loudly, her voice acid.

"You know he's just looking for attention, he doesn't really like you. None of us like you."

Pansy's rage was quite obvious, her hands were on her hips and her eyes were blazing. Ginny kept her cool, and tried to take on the calm, unreadable expression she had seen Draco use.

"And you think he likes you more?" she asked, trying to look bored.

"You're a Gryffindor and a Weasley," Pansy spat. "You're no more to him than one of his house elves. You're a blood traitor and a lowlife, and you don't have the class to be at a party such as this. You don't belong here."

Ginny stood up. Her anger was now unfortunately evident, but she tried to keep calm as she spoke.

"Well, as I was invited by the host as his date, I would think I belong here even more than you. After all, you're only here because his parents invited your parents."

With those words she stood up and walked out of the door. It seemed like the right dramatic gesture at the time, but when she came out on the other side she was in a hallway she didn't recognize. She instantly regretted her dramatic exit, but didn't feel she could give Pansy the pleasure of seeing her come back with her tail between her legs.

The hall was long and dark, with several doors on either side. Retracing her steps in her head she figured out that it must run alongside the ballroom, and thought she could get back there through another door. She walked to the end of the hallway, and went in through a door on the same side as the one she came in to. The room she entered wasn't a ballroom but what appeared to be a small windowless study, nor did it have any doors in the direction she thought the ballroom might lay. There was another door, though, and Ginny decided on a whim to try it.

She now entered a large library, but what caught her attention was what she saw on the far wall. She crossed the room, and couldn't help but be surprised to see pictures hanging on the wall. There were family pictures of the three Malfoys and of course Narcissa and Lucius' bridal pictures. There was a picture of a young Lucius with a pregnant Narcissa beside him. In one picture she saw another couple, which, judging by the fair hair and the trademark cold grey eyes, had to be Lucius' mother and father; Draco's grandparents. The pictures that really intrigued Ginny, however, were the pictures of Draco as a child.

Thinking of him now she couldn't imagine him ever having been as small and fragile as these pictures showed. The Draco in the pictures was oddly vulnerable, yet still had the same proud, hard look she knew so well. She supposed that it might just be how his parents had wanted to portray him, as a child with class and integrity. She couldn't seem to find one picture of Draco smiling or playing. Each shot only showed a child that was cold, composed, and classy.

She finally tore herself away from the photographs and turned to go back the way she came. What she did see when she turned, however, were three doors on the same wall. She had no idea which one she'd come in through, but decided to try one. It didn't lead her back to the study, but back to the long hallway, which she figured was even better, although she now had no idea which side she had come from, let alone one which door.

She walked a little way along the hallway, and opened a door at random. It wasn't a room she recognized, but seeing a door at the other end she decided to go through, just in case it led to the ballroom. The next room wasn't the ballroom either, just an almost empty room with doors leading to other rooms.

She was beginning to get dizzy by the thought of how enormous this place was, and by now she was completely lost, so she entered a new room without knowing what she was looking for.

What she saw when she stepped through the door amazed her. It was a huge bedroom with the biggest bed she had ever seen. The bedroom had soft carpeting and the light on the bedside table gave off a soft light which, together with the light from the fireplace next to the door, gave the room a warmer feel than any other room she'd gone through in Malfoy Manor so far.

Without thinking she stepped into the room, running her hands over the dark wood of the desk by the wall. Everything in this place seemed to be dark wood and marble. As she stepped onto the carpet, feeling her feet sink down in the soft fabric, she noticed the bag on the chair by the bed emblazoned with the Slytherin crest. She suddenly realized she had stepped into Draco's bedroom, and quickly took a few steps back, intending to leave.

"You know, I've always dreamed of walking into my bedroom and finding a beautiful woman there," a voice said behind her. "Of course, in my dream you were wearing fewer clothes, but I think we can work with this, too."

She spun around and saw Draco walking in to the room shutting the door behind him.

"I was wondering where you were," he said. "You can imagine my surprise - and delight - when I found you walking so determinately in here. I hope I didn't ruin any surprise that involved you slipping into something more comfortable"

He walked up to her, and stood unnaturally close. She smiled, feeling nervous, but at the same time she felt comfortable, happy and excited.

"You know, that expression is kind of misleading," she said flirtatiously. "Anything I would put on after saying that could not be more comfortable than whatever I'm wearing."

"Yes, they should really just say it straight out," Draco said. He put his hand on her hip and walked around her letting the hand trail around her waist.

"Slip into something sexier. Although I doubt you could be much sexier." He gave her a wink, and she felt her knees giving in a little.

"Well, that's good. It makes us equal," she said.

She was well aware of what was building between them. She knew she could end it if she wanted, but right now what she wanted more than anything was to play along. She wanted the feeling she now had, of his hand on her body. She wanted him near. He came back around and slipped his other hand around her waist as well and locked them in the small of her back.

"Oh yes?" he said arching an eyebrow, his breath warm on her face.

"Yes," she said.

She moved even closer and locked her hands around his neck.

"Do you think they'll miss us?" she whispered in his ear, very aware of what signal she was sending.

"So what if they do," he whispered back. "No one will dare come in here."

Just to underline his words, he unlocked his right hand to point a locking spell at the door. Turning back, he put his hand to her face, and ran it from her cheek to the back of her neck, cupping her head. Neither of them was caught by surprise this time, and so they both leaned in to have their lips meet once again.

It was a cool, composed kiss, but it still gave Ginny a jolt down her spine. She slid her hands up his neck and through his hair, which was silky soft. His hand travelled from under her head down along her neck and continued down, trailing the curves of her body. As his hand trailed the curve of her breast, her breath hitched and she gripped his hair.

Draco moved his mouth over to her ear, and gave it a careful nip. She lifted her head to allow him to trail kisses down his neck, and slipped her hand around and unfastened the clasp that held his cloak up. It slid to the floor, and she slipped her hand under the collar of his shirt feeling the muscles of his upper back. Slowly she slipped her hand around and started undoing the silver buttons of his vest.

Draco had managed to get the top of her dress pushed down around her shoulders, and as he moved back to kiss her mouth, his hand wandered up and down over her hip. She got his vest and shirt fully open and he shook them off. His body was toned, and Ginny couldn't help running her hands carefully over it. When he moved to touch her again, she felt his abs work under her hands.

He pushed her back and she sat down on the bed while Draco sat down on his knees in front of her. The pace of their kisses picked up, and he hiked her skirt up to her knee, placing his one hand under it on her thigh. Their hands quickened; Draco's moving further up her thigh while Ginny let her hand drop to Draco's waist, running a finger just on the inside of the top of his pants.

She lifted herself temporarily to allow him to hike the skirt up even further. It was now just barely covering the upper part of her thigh, and Draco's hand was even further up than that. She allowed herself to open the buttons on his pants. Draco quickly followed up by letting his hands run over her hips under her dress and started playing with the upper edge of her underwear.

She moved to kiss his neck, and was pleased to see Draco elongating his neck exposing the sensitive skin and closing his eyes. Suddenly he moved his hand to the small of her back, and when he slipped it under her underwear Ginny was caught by surprise and managed to lightly bite his neck. His eyes flew open, but he didn't say anything. In response he merely gave her a half malicious, half flirtatious smile, and pulled his hand out from under her dress. Then he pushed her back on the bed and, placing himself between her legs, got on top of her.

Carefully he gathered her arms in his and placed them over her head, pinning her beneath him. He ran the hand not holding her hands lightly down over her chest, stopping at her cleavage where he started trailing circles on the exposed part of her breasts. Without warning he grabbed the top of her dress and pulled hard, ripping the fine fabric and exposing her bra. Surprised by this she gave a small cry, but he silenced her with a fierce kiss.

"Don't worry, I'll have someone fix it in the morning," he whispered in her ear.

His hand left hers, but she kept them above her head giving him complete control. Instead he placed both his hands on either side of her to support him as he trailed kisses down her neck, over her chest and towards the swell of her breasts. Supporting himself on the elbow of one hand he moved the other behind her back and started loosening the corset that bound her dress together. She arched her back, giving him room.

"Now why didn't you do that right away instead of ruining my nice dress?" she asked playfully.

"Much less exciting," he said with a smile, moving his head up to hers.

She lifted her head up to meet him in a kiss as he unlaced the last of her corset. Feeling the bare skin of his torso touching the bare skin of hers felt just right, and she let her nails trail over his back; gentle but still hard enough to leave a red mark. He freed her hands carefully from the arms of the dress, and then in one swift movement he lifted her out of her dress and further in on his bed. For a minute he sat in the tangle of her dress and merely watched her lying on his bed in her underwear, his eyes cloudy.

"Good God, Weasley," he said softly with admiration in his voice

She felt suddenly conscious of how undressed she was under his examining look, but had little time for thought before he was once again by her side. He left his pants by her dress, and they tangled together almost naked while their hands ran lightly over the other's body. As the last garments fell, Ginny couldn't help but feel amazed at how right it all felt. Just a few weeks ago she would have imagined just kissing Draco Malfoy would feel horribly wrong, but now that she was here, it wasn't weird, it wasn't horrifying. Instead it was actually pleasant, more so than almost anything she'd done before. Letting herself lose all inhibitions in her enemy's arms was freeing.

She never slept in the comfortable bed that had been made for her on the other side of the manor. Late at night they had finally fallen asleep together in Draco's bed. She felt safe in his arms and loved the feel of his body against her back, his arms holding her close. She had stayed awake, hearing his breath slow and feeling his arms relax around her.

She wondered if he looked innocent while asleep, but didn't turn around to check in case he woke up. Instead, she marveled at the way their bodies fit together, and tried to figure out the feeling in her stomach. It was somewhere between excitement and dread, happiness and sorrow.

She wanted to enjoy the moment, because she knew that when the night was over, things would change. At this moment everything felt right, but she was under no illusions that the magic would last outside of this room. Malfoys and Weasleys don't mix, and that wouldn't change just because the two of them were attracted to each other.

But even though the dread of facing tomorrow was like a stone in the bottom of her stomach, she felt it lift a little every time she thought of the night, and how things were at that very moment. Besides, she would always have Pansy's immense jealousy to look forward to. She smiled at this thought, and with it she drifted asleep.