March, week 12

Two weeks ago it had been announced that a ball would be held to celebrate Professor Dumbledore's birthday. It would be held on Saturday night and the Weird Sisters would be there to sing Happy Birthday to the professor. Every one would be able to attend but first thru fourth years would have to leave by nine o'clock and the party would continue until eleven o'clock for everyone else. The students had been quite excited and had begun to plan what to wear and whom to ask to the event as their date. Crys was in charge of the festivities and had roped Ginny into helping her prepare for the event and now here she was dressed in a red satin tight bodice and mini skirt gown that left nothing for the imagination.

She stood at the edge of the stage talking with the stage manager and the music director making sure that Crystal's orders were being followed to the letter. Crystal had insisted on her coming and Virginia had finally agreed but this dress was cutting off her breathing. She could also feel her brothers stare on her and that of, no she wouldn't think that way not at this moment. She had ushered Crystal away with Professor Snape to the dance floor swearing that she would make sure everything went of without a hitch for the arrival of the Weird Sisters in approximately fifteen minutes.

She excused herself from the presence of the stage manager and music director to walk outside to the balcony for a quick five minute breather before the arrival of the special guests. When she arrived at the balcony she decided to walk to the gardens instead and view the night sky for a moment before she headed back inside. As she stood in the middle of the garden she realized that it was empty, everyone must have headed inside for a good viewing spot. As Ginny turned she came face to face with Draco, he had come to the dance alone she had noticed dressed in a black tuxedo with a red and black bow tie. At the moment he wasn't wearing it and had the first two buttons of his shirt open. She recovered quickly from her shock of seeing him so close and began to walk out of the gardens. As she walked past him with out a second look he stopped her short by simply saying, "Goodnight Virginia." She stood still and savored the sound of her name coming form him once more. She then continued her pace and over her shoulder simply answered, "Goodnight Draco."

When Ginny arrived back into the ball Crystal was walking off stage after introducing the guests for the night. Ginny walked over to Crystal and gave her goodnights, she was exhausted and the last two weeks had finally caught up to her. Moments after Ginny's departure Snape noticed Draco exit the ball as well and headed down the east corridor, the same way Ginny had departed.

As Ginny was walking down the hall she began to remove the jeweled sticks that were holding up her curly hair. Crystal had arranged her hair in the good old fashioned muggle way, curls and then proceeded to pin a good thirds of them up into a loose bun on top of her head. She had taken all of them out now and had stopped to shake her entire hair free in order to run her fingers thru it. Her skin started to tingle knowing he was close by. She stood straight again and started her leisure pace once more to the cottage outside the castle where Crystal, her and the children lived. Besides he might be headed to the kitchen's or something it would be crazy that he would be following her. Her question had been answered when she heard his steps echoing into another direction father away from her. She stepped outside into the cool night air and withdrew her wand from her purse and cast a warming charm on herself so she wouldn't freeze before she arrived home.