Ch. 19

She didn't even want to go to Gladrag's anymore when they left Spintwitches; she was too excited about the broom, and Blaise didn't seem to mind. He knew that she would probably have that reaction, and he gladly walked her back to the carriages so that she wouldn't have to wait too long to open it.

"Why won't you let me hold it?" She whined playfully as they made their way up to one of the empty carriages.

"Because, little Red," He answered with a grin, "You're only going to pick at the paper until you've 'accidentally' picked enough of it away to find out what it is. And I want you to be surprised when you open it!"

She groaned and crossed her arms against her chest when she plopped down on one side of the carriage and he shook his head at her, sitting on the opposite side but putting his legs up on the seat next to her and laying her new broom across his lap.

Raising an eyebrow at his outstretched legs, she asked, "Are you trying to prevent me from going anywhere?"

He smirked at her. "I'm smart enough to know that I can't stop you from doing anything you want to do."

"Good." She said, leaning back.

"That doesn't mean I can't make it difficult for you though if you were intending to leave," He went on.

She smacked his leg but grinned at him. "Just admit that you don't want me to leave, Zabini."

"If you really want to jump out of a moving carriage, Red, by all means," He said, gesturing behind them. "I'm not going to stop you."

"Why not?" She asked, raising another eyebrow at him.

"Don't think that means that I want you to," He smiled. "I'd much prefer you to stay here, but I won't stop you if leaving is what would make you happy."

She looked at him silently, wondering if he was still joking. He simply smiled at her, readjusting and putting his arms up against the siding, looking away from her towards the Thestral pulling the carriage.

"Blaise," She said quietly, catching his attention almost immediately.

"Yes?" He replied.

She hesitated slightly. "You've been nothing but nice to me since we came back to school. Why?"

"Isn't it obvious?" He said in a calm tone.

She didn't answer, waiting for him to say it. He smiled then and pulled his feet away from her, leaning forward and gently grabbing her chin. "You, Ginny Weasley, have caught my attention. You are incredibly bright, incredibly feisty, and without a doubt one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen."

She smiled then, her cheeks flushing to nearly the same color as her hair. He grinned in response at her sudden embarrassment, taking note of the sudden surge of happiness that went through her.

Everyone stared at them again as they walked through the halls of the castle, with Blaise still carrying her broom. She was eager to go and open it, but at the same time that meant that her time with him had ended for the day. She decided to walk a little slower, and knew that he wouldn't mind. She couldn't help but notice that they were walking closer to each other, their arms almost fully against one another but neither of them pulled away.

"I still can't believe you bought me a broom," She stated in disbelief for probably the fifth time that day.

"You better start believing it," He said happily. "I'm almost half tempted to go out to the Quidditch pitch, because I know the first thing you're going to want to do is test it out."

"I'll be very disappointed if I don't see you there, Zabini," She said, looking up at him with a grin. "I even promise not to hex you on site for buying the broom."

He laughed and they continued walking until they made it to the bottom of the staircase. He turned to her and held out her broom which she eagerly took, jumping up and down slightly. Chuckling, he thought she looked like a little kid who was just given the Christmas present they had been eyeing. She then flushed and straightened up, clearing her throat.

"Well, Mister Zabini," She started with a smile on her face. "This was a lovely day, even without the surprise present you got me."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," He said, smiling happily.

"We'll have to do it again."

"Are you asking me out on a date this time, Red?" He asked, his Veela humming with excitement.

She grinned. "Only if you want to."

"Of course I do," He said, grinning.

She was beaming with happiness and then she stepped towards him, reaching up to press a soft kiss on his cheek. He was stunned for a moment but then a large smile spread across his face. She smiled shyly in response and then waved as she went up the steps backwards and saying, "Don't forget to be on the Quidditch pitch!"

He laughed. "I'll head out right now!"

She hesitated to turn away and give the password to the portrait, keeping an eye on him as she stepped through the portrait and then it shut slowly behind her.

Blaise sighed happily and turned around slowly, heading down the corridor with the smile permanently plastered on his face.

Ginny immediately ran to the couch, drawing a crowd of excited Gryffindors who were all waiting to see what broom she had.

Seamus was exceptionally excited. "Want help unwrapping it, Gin?"

"Ha! This is my present, Seamus," She said, slowly cutting the twine that was wrapped around the paper. "I don't want you blowing it up!"

Everyone laughed while he grinned. She cut the rest of the twine and then slowly unwrapped it, gasping as soon as the broomstick was in view. Everyone started yelling in excitement when they saw the Firebolt, some clapping her on the back and cheering.

She felt tears start to come up but she forced them down with a smile, running a hand along the edge of the broom while muttering, "I'm going to kill you, Zabini."

Luckily no one had heard her over their cheering.

"What's got you in such a good mood, Blaise?"

He turned around to see Draco coming up behind him. "Just got back from Hogsmeade with Ginny, and now I'm about to head out to the Quidditch pitch. Care to join?"

"Why are you going there?" Draco asked curiously.

"You'll see," He answered with a grin.

They both walked through the hallways and out of the castle, Draco giving his friend looks every so often. When they made it out to the pitch, they both made their way up into the stands as Draco wondered exactly what in Merlin's name they were doing. But he knew Blaise wasn't going to tell him so he sighed and changed the subject while he waited.

"So I finally told her," He said, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Oh yeah?" Blaise replied, looking at Draco. "Did you tell her everything?"

Draco nodded in response. Blaise then asked, "How'd she react?"

"Surprisingly calm," Draco said lightly, still surprised by Hermione's reaction. "I was not expecting it. She took a lot of time to think about everything I had told her right after and I answered every question she had at the time. But she didn't reject me!"

Blaise grinned at his friend and clapped him on the shoulder. "That's wonderful news, mate!"

"Yeah!" Draco grinned. "Have you told Ginny yet?"

"Not yet; I'm still trying to make progress with her but I think I did a good job today," Blaise said.

They both looked towards the castle as a sudden commotion hit their ears. There was a large crowd of people running in a frenzy towards the pitch, and then one person separated from the group. Blaise instantly knew it was Ginny.

Draco, however, was confused by everything. He saw a flash of red leave the group and then take flight, soaring quickly away from everyone else. He squinted as he tried to follow the person, then he quickly realized with slight horror that it was Ginny.

"You did not!" He exclaimed, looking at Blaise.

Blaise avoided his eyes, grinning while watching his mate. "Think she's happy with it?"

"You bought her a bloody Firebolt?!" Draco yelled. "Dammit, Blaise..."

"Was I not supposed to?" Blaise asked, not taking his eyes off of the blur of red happily soaring through the air. He could faintly hear her excited cries as she flew practically everywhere.

"You're not supposed to help the Gryffindor team!" Draco groaned, leaning back with a hand over his eyes. "Now I'm going to have to buy a bloody Firebolt just to keep up!"

"It's not like their seeker is going to have one," Blaise said, tearing his eyes away from her finally as she disappeared into the clouds. "You only need to be faster than whoever the seeker is."

Draco growled still and their attention was caught by Ginny reappearing beneath the clouds, quickly descending towards them. Blaise stood up and grinned as he watched her fly towards them, grinning like a madwoman.

Ginny quickly pulled the broom to a stop in front of them, turning the broom sideways to face them. She was grinning just as widely as Blaise was, her hair a tangled mess from the wind.

"Enjoying your present?" He asked, her excitement fueling his own.

"All I have to say is that Slytherin is getting crushed this ear in Quidditch," She exclaimed, laughing.

Draco groaned and leaned back again, cursing Blaise out quietly.

Blaise, however, was laughing with Ginny. "We'll see about that, Red!"

She moved the broom closer until she was hovering right in front of Blaise, turning so that she was sitting sideways on the broom and reaching down to grab his head in her hands. Before he could react, her lips were planted firmly on his without care as to who saw.

Draco stared at them in shock, his mouth hanging open slightly. The crowd on the ground were all cheering until she pulled away slowly and they saw who she was kissing.

The two of them didn't care though, being in their own little world, and Blaise grinned at her when they broke apart. "I need to buy you more things if that's going to be your way of showing me thanks."

She laughed and gave him another kiss before righting herself on her broom and flying off with another cry of excitement. Draco was still staring at Blaise, and when he looked back at his friend the blond said, "Well that was sickeningly adorable."

Blaise smacked him over the head.