You Live, You Learn

Chapter 7: Caught Between the Two

Ginny bolted awake. She was lying on the floor with her sheets tangled around her.

"Whose there?" she asked, trying to hide the small amount of fear in her voice.

"Look, it's okay. I am not a murder or anything."

"Well, that sure eases my mind," Ginny replied sarcastically. There was a small laugh from across the room. "Who are you then if you aren't a murder?"

"It's me." The voice paused. "Draco."

"Dr-Malfoy? What are you doing here?"

There was no reply.

"Well?"

The shadow shrugged, "I really don't know. My guts just told me to come here."

His guts? Ginny thought to herself. His guts told him to come here?

"Where are you?" Draco enquired.

"What?"

"I can't see you."
"Oh. Lumos," Ginny muttered. The end of her wand gave off a fatigued glow.

"Hello."

"Hi." Ginny chose this time to apologise,

"Well," She cleared her throat and shifted her weight uneasily. "I guess this is a good as time as ever, but I am sorry for...when I yelled at you a day ago."

Draco nodded his head in affirmation.

"You just told me the truth." Before there was a second thought Ginny said,

"But, I don't think I did tell you the truth."

"What?" Draco's eyebrows rose.

"Yeah, I mean we aren't madly in love or anything like that, but I guess you are my...friend. Except for the fact that..."

"Our families hate each other, and that they would gladly strangle the other until they die. I get it. We play the name calling game."

"Thanks," Ginny said even though there was nothing to thank him about.

"Well, I better go now."

"How did you get here?" Draco held up a broom. "Flew."

"Good night Weasley."

"Night Malfoy."

****

No matter how hard she tried, Ginny couldn't fall back into a slumber.

Draco had come to visit her in the dead of the night. The thought of Draco reminded her of the love potion, and she began to wonder if she should have asked about it. Ginny soon gave up on any hope of sleep, and picked up a piece of parchment, a quill, and an inkbottle.

She wrote:

Dear Draco,

She crossed it out. It sounded like a love letter, and when did she ever call him by his first name? Would she say "Dear Malfoy," or "Malfoy,". She fought over what she should start with, but in the end she just omitted the salutation.

Hello, this is Ginny. I suppose I am writing you because I want to know about something. The love potion, or any love potion in general. I am going to the library tomorrow myself to research on them, but if there is anything you can just tell me about, feel free to do so. Write me whenever you want. Any time.

Ginny

She stared back at what she wrote. It was very childish, but it would have to do. She was not going to impress him on any likes of this letter, but she told herself that it was not her goal. She would go to the Owlery the next morning, and hopefully he would receive it by breakfast the next morning.

****

Ginny walked to breakfast the next morning from the Owlery. She didn't feel like talking to anyone, so she stopped early at the library and checked out a book on love potions.

"Good morning Ginny!" Hermione said brightly. Ron looked up for a moment, but then buried his head down to leave the least amount of his fork to travel to his mouth.

"Good morning, Hermione."

"You've got an owl."

Ginny looked down and on top of her plate was a letter. A letter from Paul.

Ginny,

Miss you a lot. I know that sounds corny, but it is what a truly feel. Even though I have only just met you, I can feel a genuine connection between us. Call me sappy and romantic, but that is how I feel. Here, nothing is really happening, I do not see why my parents made me come back. I am trying to convince them to send me back, but I am, so far, unsuccessful.

Missing you terribly,

Paul

Ginny stared blankly at the letter. Paul thought they had a "genuine connection".

She gave a small squeal when an owl swooped down into her face. The owl hooted gently, dropped the letter, and took off.

Could you meet me in the Entrance Hall tonight at nine o'clock?

Draco

She looked over at the Slytherin table. Draco was reading her letter. He looked up at Ginny and smiled at her.

She looked at the two letters. God, I love him, she thought to herself.