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Chapter Three
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Racing out of the carriage and yelling a quick, "Goodbye! Thank you!", to her drivers, she lifted up her variety of skirts and dashed to the door. She fiddled with the knob, but was able to get it open, thankful that it wasn't locked. Upon entering her home, her gown disintegrated into her usual uniform, leaving her in a plain white shirt and shabby brown skirt. Looking down at the ground, she gasped.

Her left foot was covered in the beautiful glass slipper that Tonks had given her, but her right was bare, smeared in soot. Hastily taking off the shoe, she looked around for the nearest hiding spot, where she could conceal the slipper. She noticed a broken brick on the wall and decided to veil it in there. Knowing that her family would be awake soon, she jogged over there and took away the red brick and the other brick behind it. She placed the slipper in the place where the second brick once was and then sheltered it with the first brick. She knew that the living room wasn't the best place to hide such a valuable item, but it was the only spot she could think of. She lifted up the second brick, after hiding the shoe, and threw it out the window, hoping that it didn't break anything fragile in her mother's garden.

Spinning around, she rushed up the stairs, finding her twin brothers looking sleepily at her. Fred had his hair matted underneath a fluffy wool hat, while George's was wildly uncontrolled. "You look flustered, Gin," started Fred, "you alright?"

Ginny laughed nervously. "Flustered? Of course not! I'm quite alright. What are you two doing up so … late?"

George groaned. "Mum just started snoring crazily a few minutes ago-"

"- and it wasn't a something we'd like to hear -"

"- I thought I was going to die!" exclaimed Fred.

"You thought you were going to die? I thought I was going to go deaf! I practically felt blood running down my ears and onto my pillow!"

Ginny rolled her eyes and left her brothers arguing in the hallway, really wanting to get into her room and have a chat with Tonks. She opened the door to her room and entered slowly, still being able to hear her twin brothers quarreling. Sighing deeply, she smiled, recalling the kiss that she just received from a very handsome prince.

The thought of her prince made her breathing stop. That's when she just remembered that the reason she went to the ball was to find Harry and in going, she discovered that he was not there but was visiting a servant family.

Her eyes brightened. "He should be here!" she squealed, knowing that she would be the first he would visit. Preparing to open her bedroom door in search of her love, someone on the other side of the room cleared their throat loudly. Ginny spun around and found a very happy Tonks sitting in one of her stool chairs.

"Why are you back so early?" asked Tonks. "It hasn't even been an hour!" Her hair was now a dark orange, radiating because of the moonlight outside.

Ginny bit her lip excitedly. "Harry's here!" she squeaked.

Tonks looked confused. "Why would he be here? He should be at the ball."

"Someone informed me of his presence at a servant's home and I knew it'd be mine! Isn't this just wonderful, Tonks! He could be downstairs at this moment!" Ginny looked at Tonks' expression. "What's the matter? Aren't you happy for me?"

"No, no," cooed Tonks, "it's not that, Ginny. It's just … I've been in this house all night and not once have I sensed an intruder or visitor. The only inhabitants are you, your two brothers, your mother, and I. Harry is not here, dear."

Ginny's eyelids drooped, but not as low as she thought they would. She, of course, was sad that Harry wasn't here, but just the thought of not seeing him made her giddy. This could maybe give her an excuse to see the prince. Shaking her head of the evil thoughts, she collapsed on the bed and stared at Tonks. "It was the most beautiful place I've ever seen, Tonks," Ginny sighed dreamily.

Tonks smiled. "Did you like it?"

"I loved it," replied Ginny, "it was so perfect."

"I can see romance in your eyes," whispered Tonks, "who did you meet?"

Ginny looked away, embarrassed. "No one," she responded.

Tonks snorted. "I know a girl in love when I see one," she sniffed.

Ginny's eyes widened. "I am not in love! I am merely infatuated!" she defended. She clamped a hand over her mouth, cursing herself for admitting that she was, indeed, swooning over someone.

Tonks pointed an accusing finger at her. "Ha! See that! I know what I speak of! I'm not stupid, Ginny! I've got my ways!"

Ginny laughed lightly. "Do you know of who I fancy, Tonks?" she asked.

Tonks smirked knowingly. "Of course, Ginny," she countered, "it's the prince."

Ginny grumbled in a irritable manner. "Go fetch me some potatoes," she mocked in her mother's voice, hating her now with every fiber of her body. She was being sent on a food errand to the market's to buy some new potatoes that Mrs. Granger just grew the day before. Still growling in an annoyed tone, she strolled down the market street, not meeting any of the people's eyes. She hated going to the market place. It was always crowded with people she didn't really speak to.

Sighing quietly and looking down at her clothes, she felt herself miss the fancy clothing and the glass slippers she wore just the night before. So many things about the ball were on her mind; Harry, the prince, the glass slipper and Tonks.

Stopping slightly, she smiled gaily. "Hermione!" she yelled in a happy voice.

Hermione spun around, her eyes beginning to sparkle. "Ginny! What are you doing here!" She ran forward and enveloped her friend in a large hug, shaking her from side to side and squealing, "I've missed you!" Hermione pulled back and asked, "Where's Neville? How is he doing?"

Ginny heaved a sigh. "He's making it through, Mione. I think he's going off to visit his parents … I don't know for sure. I'm planning to see him after I buy those delicious potatoes your mother grows."

Hermione blushed. "You know, Ginny," she started, "you don't have to pay for them. I'll give them to you for free. We are, after all, practically family. I'll just ask mother to pack you a bunch and we can both bring it back to your house. Do you mind if I come with you to see Neville?"

Ginny shook her head. "I'd love for you to come along."

Hermione smiled widely and turned around, walking over to her mother who was more than five feet away. They talked quietly, Hermione bagging potatoes into a brown sack and her mother giggling.

Ginny felt a sense of security just knowing that everyone was going through everything okay. Hermione's father, Jack, was off with her own father, fighting off the Lurkers. Thinking of her father and brothers once more, Ginny's secure smile faded away, a frown now appearing. Before she could think any further, a loud screech emitted through the bustling street of the market place.

"But, Draco! I want you to feed me the chocolate!" squeaked a high voice, causing Ginny to shut her eyes and wince. It sounded almost like a cat dying, or at least something dying. Feeling her ears start to bleed, Ginny snapped her head to the right and found a very blonde girl, around the age of her brother, Ronald, her mouth wide open, urging the man in front of her to feed her some sort of sugary confection. It was a chunk of brown, cut in a triangular shape, with powder on the lining. Ginny guessed it was this "chocolate" that the girl was screaming about. Her eyes widening, Ginny swallowed, realizing that the blonde girl yelled the name "Draco".

She slithered herself to the left, out of their view and more into Hermione's market tent. She hid her face behind her right hand, hoping and praying that they would leave as soon as possible.

"Ginny, what on earth are you doing?" asked Hermione, holding a sack of potatoes.

Ginny swallowed. "Hide me," she whispered.

Hermione's eyebrows knotted up in confusion. "But, Ginny why would I need to -"

"Excuse me, miss," cut in a smooth voice.

Ginny stiffened, hoping Hermione got the idea.

Hermione shifted her attention to the blonde boy in front of her. "Prince Draco," she breathed, bowing in a swift motion, "what would you like me to do for you?"

"I need a cloth," he replied, looking at the blonde girl, who was covered in melted chocolate, "there was an accident."

Hermione stifled a giggle and nodded, pulling a small handkerchief out from her pocket. "It's the only one I have," she said quietly, wishing that she didn't have to give it to him. The first and most important rule of their kingdom was to always give what the royal family desired, good or bad. The handkerchief she handed to Prince Draco was a present from her current love, Ronald. He gave it to her as a token of his care and utter devotion.

Prince Draco saw the pain in her eyes and sighed. "Keep it," he commanded.

Hermione's eyes sparkled. "Thank you," she whispered, pocketing the cloth once more.

Ginny bit her lip and looked away, mumbling, "Please leave, please leave."

Then it happened; all in slow motion. Prince Draco turned his head, ever so slowly to the left, preparing to ask anyone else for another cloth. Ginny drew a large intake of breath, knowing that this was the end. Hermione, taking initiative, looked down at her sack of potatoes and concocted an idea. Grabbing a potato from inside the sack, she threw her hand all the way back leisurely and flung the potato into the market street, aiming straight for the screechy girl with blonde hair.

Biting her lip in anticipation, her mind mentally cheered as the potato hit the girl square on the side of her head, causing her to lunge back and scream, "My head!"

Prince Draco spun around and eyed the squeaking blonde, still smeared in brown, her hands now on her forehead. She was screaming in pain, plenty of her maids surrounding her, mumbling a few words. He sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair, knowing that he, too, would have to be there to console the woman. Turning to Hermione, he asked, "Do you have any ice water?"

Hermione's eyes widened, surprised at the fact that he would actually just wait there and stay until she grabbed a bucket of cold water. Wouldn't he have gone to his woman? Wouldn't he have left to see if she was alright? Nodding numbly and avoiding Ginny all together, Hermione snapped her body all around and ran towards her mother, who was already filling a miniature pail with water. She had heard all the commotion earlier and thought it best to help her only daughter with the requests for the prince.

Building up some courage, Ginny shut her eyes and opened them again, preparing to run away from that area as fast as she could. Making a move to walk away, a familiar voice yelled her name, "Ginny!"

Her breath hitched. "Oh no," she breathed. She didn't turn around, nor did she shift her body in any way. She knew that voice. She knew that voice all too well. Soon enough, a very flushed boy landed in front of her, his dark hair done wildly in different directions. He was clutching his chest, where his heart lay. "Neville!" she hissed, hoping the prince behind her didn't hear, "what the bloody hell are you doing here!"

He looked hurt. "Your mother told me that you would be buying potatoes, so I decided to track you down. My grams also needed a few things, so …"

"Move," Ginny said through her stiff lips, "get out of the way! We've got to get out of here!"

He seemed confused, but listened to her anyway, standing aside and holding his hand out to her. Ginny let out a breath and began to walk once more, when a splash of water bestowed upon her back, causing her to shudder. The feeling of ice prickling at her skin made her tremble.

"Oh, Gods," apologized a deep voice, "my apologies, my lady."

Ginny whimpered, but did not say a word. She felt a masculine hand reach for hers, ready to spin her around and say his apologies in a formal manner.

"Draco!"

He immediately dropped Ginny's hand and looked back, finding a very mad girl in front of him. "How dare you just stand there and not bother to help me! My clothes and completely ruined and I'm suffocating in this air that I'm sharing with these servants! Bring me back to the castle now! I will notify your father about your horrible behavior towards me!"

Taking the opportunity, Ginny sprinted away from Hermione's market tent and into the street, where she gathered up her brown skirt and ran even faster. She could hear Neville stumble behind her, his clumsy footsteps a sign that he needed to know why she was acting so strangely. Another pair of steps could be heard. Ginny knew it was Hermione, for the sound of her pattering feet was labored, like she was carrying something heavy. She knew for a fact that it was the enormous sack of potatoes that her mother wanted for dinner. Jogging farther and farther away from that section of the market place, Ginny stared straight at the ground, thinking about what almost happened. Getting ready to make a right turn, she hit another person, who was looking at a few trinkets. Lifting her head, she smiled curtly. "Hello, Millicent." Millicent was another one of Ginny's servant friends, who's father owned a small farm a few minutes from her home. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going to see your mother in Nattor."

Before she could say anything else, a built arm slithered its way around Millicent's waist, the man stating, "Millie, love, do you need anything else? I think your sister said something about a pendant."

Ginny's breath faltered. "No," she whispered.

The man took notice of Ginny, then Neville (who suddenly came up behind them, inhaling with all his might), then Hermione (who, too, stopped abruptly to stare at him), and said quietly, "Ginny?"

"Oh, Merlin," she breathed, "Harry."

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End Of Chapter Three
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