"Arse bandit." She muttered.

"Okay..." Hermione looked to her only girlfriend in concern.

"Sorry Mione." She shook her head smiling, "Just zonked off for a minuet."

"Yeah," Hermione laughed, "I noticed." Hermione and Harry had spent most of the summer at the Weasley’s where they all formed a tight new bond, stronger than before. Ginny supposed this was because of the Dark Lord’s return.

"Let’s go get a compartment." Ginny said, "Well save a place for Ron and Harry." She nodded toward the pair who was in what seemed to be a deep conversation with Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas.

"Need help with your trunks?" George had come up behind them, Fred at his heals.

"Yeah, you two take mine, will you? Hermione and I will carry hers." Ginny offered.

They carried to two trunks into a compartment near the middle of the train. Hermione and Ginny thanked them while Fred and George made their excuses for not staying ("Lee has this wicked spell book.")

"I recon that is the first time they have ever rushed off for a book," Ginny giggled.

In the Next Compartment

"So, how was France?" Greg asked.

"French." Draco supplied shortly.

"Oh." Vince nodded. Then he and Goyle exchanged a look.

"Draco, we’ve been worryin’ about you." Greg said.

"That is kind of you." Draco replied looking out of the train window. He saw the Weasley girl and the mudblo-. No! Draco scolded himself, remember what Cross said. Calling her such words is bigotry and ignorance; you don’t want to be ignorant do you? Draco knew the answer to that was a definite no.

He looked back and saw her twin brother’s had shown up. Draco scowled, brushing a stray strand of hair out of his eyes.

"Draco, will you at least listen to us?"

"Silencieux, ennuyant vous es." Draco said, glaring. He didn’t need this. So he got up to Owl Cross. What else could he do?

Opening his trunk he grabbed a quill, ink and parchment. (Letter is conveniently translated... for the most part.)

Cher Cross,

C’est Moi, Draco. I have been well. It has only been a few hours and I already miss France. Never thought I’d say that. I can’t wait until the second term when you can come as foreign exchange. Do you think it will be possible to come before then?

I was right about Vince and Greg, they are already annoying me. Shows what you know! I am on the train with them right now. I am glad my French is better than theirs. Not that I am totally sure they can read English.

I haven’t seen Harry yet, but I saw three Weasley’s and one of their muggle-born friends. You are right; I won’t bother them... if they don’t bother me.

Oh hell, I don’t think you won’t laugh at me, so I might as well tell you. I didn’t recognize the Weasley girl, Ginny. Dumb and dumber had to tell me who she was. Ginny is really pretty. I don’t know what to do! What happens when you are attracted to the enemy? Well, I had better go, the train is moving now.

Owl me,

Draco

Draco rolled up the parchment and tied it to Clover, his eagle owl, leg. Clover flew out of the open window, toward Crosses also moving train.

In Ginny’s compartment

"It’s getting worse." Harry commented. They were talking about the missing muggles and wizards.

"Two muggles in the past month, one wizard." Ron muttered, "Why hasn’t Azkaban been broken into yet?"

"He’s waiting." Ginny said suddenly.

"Gin," Ron looked at her as though she were only five, "I don’t think you-know-who would wait to get his best supporters."

"She’s right." Harry said, "He’s waiting. Waiting to see what Dumbledore does. It is the way he has always fought everything. He does it like a wizard’s duel. He was very professional about wanting to kill me. Took no cheep shots.">

"Next you’re going to tell me he is an honourable man." Ron sighed writing something else on the parchment in front of him.

"You know, I’ve just realized why you don’t understand it. You two," Harry indicated to Hermione and Ron," Have never met the bastard. Ginny has, I have."

"Right, next time you two duel; be sure to count me out." Hermione joked. Harry smiled.

There was a knock on their compartment door. Ginny slid the door open.

"Professor Lupin!" She cried.

"Remus, please Ginny. I am no longer a Professor." He smiled, "I see we have found the right compartment."

"We?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, Snuffles and I, Quite the reliable dog, this one is." He smiled and they both went into the small room.

"He should be." Harry said when Sirius turned back into his human form.

"So, why are you guys coming back to Hogwarts?" Hermione asked.

"Sorry, secret." Sirius smiled as though daring him to tell.

"I will not fall for your bait, Sirius." Harry rolled his eyes. Sirius pouted.

"You’re no fun." Remus commented. Ginny just rolled her eyes. I am not sitting through this, she thought.

"I am going to the front of the train to talk to Fred and George a bit, I’ll be back later." She got up and left. Once outside the door she sighed relief.

"Weasley?" Asked a voice. She turned to see Draco Malfoy standing outside his own compartment.

"What are you doing here?" She glared.

"Standing...I was sick of those two." He jerked his head toward the sliding door. Ginny nodded accepting that.

"What are you doing?" He questioned her back.

"Would you want to be in the Volde-bloody-mort discussion room?"

"You say his name." Draco commented, "No, I wouldn’t."

"Yes, I say his name. Ever hear the saying, ‘There is nothing to fear, but fear itself.’? Cause that is what I am going by right now." She sighed.

"Étonnant." He said.

‘Oui,’ Ginny agreed.

'Poli tu franchis?’ He asked.

‘Un peu, vous?’

"Same here," He smiled, ‘I am now living with my Grandparents and I have been learning.’

‘Oh, are they French?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, they live there." He sighed, "I miss France already. Can you believe it, one vacation and I love it there. I actually made a real friend. I never had one of those before."

"I know the feeling." She snorted, "I would love to go to France someday, and I doubt I will make it though."

"Why not?" He asked. She blushed remembering who she was talking to, "Oh, I see.

"I am sure you will make it someday Ginny." He raised a hand and put a lose chunk of hair behind her ear; doing so without thinking.

"So, are you going to play Quidditch this year?" He asked.

"I’m not sure, why?"

"Well," He looked at her build once more, making her blush, "You have the body for a chaser." She blushed more deeply.

"I don’t even know who our Captain will be this year. Who is yours?" She asked.

"I am, Snape sent the letter to me with my booklist." Draco paled at the thought.

"No one from our team got anything." She stated.

"Maybe you will have a meeting about it in the common room, and you know, vote about it."

"Maybe, yeah. Listen, if my brother’s caught me talking to you there would be a lot of explaining to do... So I had better go." She said, "Do you think you could help me with my French sometime?" She asked. Why the hell not she thought, he seems nicer than he was, and taller, and more muscular, and sexier. Oh shut up! She thought to herself.

"Yeah, I will write to Cross to tell him. He’ll find that funny." Draco flashed a melting smile at her. It lasted only seconds, but it was so great that the lack of time made up for it.

"Cross? Who’s Cross?" Ginny asked.

"Oh, I’m sorry Cross Côté, my friend. He is supposed to be coming to Hogwarts later in the year." Draco said.

"I will look forward to meeting him; I will talk to you later." She walked toward the front of the train where she knew she’d find Fred, George, and Lee.

"Bye." He waved after her. Then he turned and rejoined Crabbe and Goyle.

Chapter 2: Many Meetings

"Hello?" Ginny knocked on Fred and George’s door.

"Yeah, Ginny?" George opened the door.

"I was getting sick of the trio. Can I come in here?"

"I guess." He opened the door wider to let her in. She immetiately went at sat in the corner by herself. For the past 14 years she was invisible, it wouldn’t be hard to be invisible then either.

"Oh Ginny, meet Cross Côté." Fred said looking up, "He’s French and will be staying here for the year." Ginny looked up in surprise at the boy sitting across from her.

Cross's hair was jet black and went to his shoulders. His face had a sort of kindness to it even though it looked gruff. He had hollow cheeks and a bright smile that looked as though it were used often. His eyes were nearly black. Not exactly warm like Hagrid’s, nor cold like Snape’s. More like he knew some greater meaning that he wanted to share, but couldn’t. Cross wasn’t very tall, about Fred and George’s height, although he was slimmer. Thin with the slightest hint of muscle tone underneath.

His eyes were flared behind thick black lashes and his nose was long and straight, but not too long.

"Hello Ginny," Cross said holding out his hand. Ginny grasped it for a firm shake. His voice didn’t have as much as an accent as she thought it would.

"Nice to meet you Cross. I was just talking to a friend of yours; he will superised at you being here now, will he not?" She smiled. Cross smiled back. Fred, George, and Lee went back to their other conversation.

"Yes, he will. You know what will make him shit his trousers even more, don’t you?"

"What?"

"If we both go meet him together." Cross smiled even broader.

"You do know that right now he is stuck with the world’s two most idiotic people right now, right?"

"Ah," He waved a hand dismissingly, "It’s good for him." She giggled. Now she knew why Draco liked him so much.

"Well, I guess we could save him." Cross said, "Let’s go."

"We are going to go meet up with Cross's friend, see you guys." Ginny waved.

"Bye," Lee said looking up along with the twins.

"So, what year are you Ginny?" Cross asked.

"I’m a fourth, you?"

"Fifth, same as Draco. Tell me, what do you think of him?"

"Old or new?"

"Well," Cross laughed, "New, I suppose."

"He is a lot nicer than he used to be. He didn’t insult me once while we were talking and he offered to help me with my French." Ginny said. Cross started laughing.

"He, help another person with French?!? He stinks himself!"

"Yeah, well you’re a native speaker." Ginny smiled in Draco’s defence, "This is his compartment." Cross raised his hand to the door and knocked.

"What?" Draco’s voice came through the door.

"Mr. Malfoy, I believe you wanted to talk to me." Ginny said.

"What?" He opened the door.

"Look what I found!" Ginny smiled.

"Cross!" Draco pulled the other man into a half hug. Cross patted Draco’s back and pulled away, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Uh—Surprise?" Cross smiled sheepishly.

"Come in, both of you, I’ll kick the lunkheads out." He took Ginny’s and Crosses hand pulling them both into the compartment.

"How is that going to work?" Ginny asked.

"Watch." Draco smirked his trademark smirk, "Crabbe, Goyle, if you would leave. I am planning on having a little er---shall we say, conversation... together." They gave him blank stares.

"What he is trying to say, stupid asses that we would like to be alone. Leave." Cross said.

The two grumbled shortly and left. This left the three of them in a compartment.

"So, how long have you two known each other?" Ginny asked. They went on to tell of their meeting that summer.

Last summer

"Fuck! FUCK you all!" Draco yelled throwing a rock into the ocean. He was on a cliff that over looked the English Channel. To most it would look beautiful; the sun setting over the ocean. To Draco it was looking more and more like an escape. Escape from the Death Eaters, his father, the Dark Lord, Hogwarts, his mother, the looks of concern Grandmeré and Grandperé gave him. All of this and more. He would never have a real life. Just pain and hatred.

"Yeah, I would like to meet your Grandparents."

***

"That was the first time we met." Draco said.

"You were thinking of committing suicide?" Ginny looked astonished.

"Yeah, I might have if Cross hadn’t come."

"Well, I’m glad that Cross was there." Ginny said.

"Yeah," Draco laughed, "Me too." Cross just raised his eye brow watching their conversation.

"What does that look for?" Draco asked

"As Anon said, ‘Discretion is being able to raise your eyebrow instead of your voice.’"

"I’m not sure that was the meaning of the quote." Ginny said.

"Well, it works."

"We’re nearly there." Draco commented, "We’d better change." So the three changed into their robes and sat.

"I’m hungry." Ginny groaned, "I didn’t get anything off of the cart."

"I’m too nervous." Cross smiled a half smile.

"Oh that’s right, you have to be sorted." Cross nodded feebly.

"Well, at least you will be the first sorted." Draco said as though this was optimistic. The train started slowing and soon they were at Hogsmeade Station.

"Firs’ years follow me!" Hagrid called out to the youngest kids on the train. He waved to Harry, Ron, and Hermione who were behind Ginny and her friends.

"Ginny? I thought you were in Fred and George’s compartment." Ron said.

"Oh I was."

"Then why did you just come out of the same compartment as Malfoy?" He asked warningly.

"We share a mutual friend." She indicated to Cross. Well, thought Ginny, at least it is the partial truth.

"Who is he?" Harry asked looking at Cross.

"Cross Côté." Cross smiled holding out his hand to Harry.

"Harry Potter." He shook Crosses hand smiling.

"I’m Hermione Granger," Hermione held out her hand smiling. Cross kissed her hand and she giggled, "No one has ever done that before to me." She explained. Cross laughed too.

"Ron Weasley." Ron held out his hand with a slight smile, "Beuxbatons?"

"I was, but I transferred here for the rest of my Wizarding education." Cross shook Ron’s hand.

"Good luck on sorting." He said walking past the other three; glaring at Draco.

"Lucky break," Ginny muttered, "Let’s go." The three made their way to one of the last carriages and up to Hogwarts.

"I am instructed to go straight to the head table when we get there." Cross said.

"Okay," Draco said, "Do you two want to meet after dinner?"

"You know that isn’t allowed." Ginny said.

"Who cares, Severus will let us in the room next to his chamber." Draco said.

"You’re right." Ginny said, "Okay we will meet there after hours. We should go to our common rooms first to find out the passwords though."

"I already know Slytherin’s, I am a prefect." Draco said.

"Well you go down there first. Cross if you are not in one of our houses meet Ginny by the main entrance." They got out of the carriage and went their separate ways.

Cross sighed looking at the castle with trepidation. It suddenly seemed more menacing. "Here goes nothing." He sighed.

Draco and Ginny belong to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Warner Bros and various other corporations. They are being used here without permission and/or affiliation with the above. None of the authors listed here make any profit from these stories.