Ginny shook her head as she made her way out to the grounds and Herbology. She had ignored Draco for several days now and had buried herself in homework since. At the end of the class Professor Sprout gave them a bunch of assignments. Ginny immediately made her way to the library where she planned to spend the hours until dinner, studying. She placed herself at one of the inner, more secluded, tables.

Half an hour later her homework was spread all over the table. She was hunched over a Potions essay when she heard someone pull out the chair next to her. She swiftly turned her head to see who the person was, and saw Draco sitting there, looking at her.

"Ginny, I've been trying to talk to you for days. I've been meaning to tell you I'm sorry I never showed up the other night," said Draco.

Ginny jumped up from her chair, which made it fly backwards hitting a bookshelf, and yelled, "Save your breath! I know what you did!" Madam Pince came rushing towards them, fuming in rage.

"No yelling in the library!" she said furiously. "If you feel the need to shout, do it somewhere else."

Ginny quickly gathered all her things and ran out from the library, determined not to look back at Draco.

She hadn't planned to show up for dinner, but her rumbling stomach convinced her to think otherwise. After she had left her belongings in her dormitory, she walked down to dinner. Although she had been hungry, she found herself picking at her food, constantly glancing over to the Slytherin table.

Draco was eyeing her with an inscrutable expression in his face. She quickly turned from his gaze and looked at her food that suddenly seemed rather interesting.

"What's up, Ginny?" she heard Harry say in her ear. She looked at him and forced a smile.

"Nothing," she said.

"Oh, come on, Gin. You can't fool me, I can see through that smile of yours."

"Well, see, Harry, the problem is I'm kind of in love."

"Oh, er," Harry answered a bit embarrassed. "And, er, with who?"

"I don't think you really want to know that," said Ginny, her face turning red. "It's too complicated."

"Okay. If you need to talk you know I'm here." Ginny smiled thankfully at Harry before she got up and left the Great Hall.

When she was about to take the first step up the stairs she felt a hand on her shoulder. She slowly turned around to look at Draco and was for a moment perplexed by his frightened eyes.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"I want to know why you're mad at me."

Ginny snorted. "That one you have to figure out on your own, Draco."

"But I don't know!" he yelled, frustrated.

"I saw you, Draco. With Parkinson. Kissing." Ginny felt the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Oh..."

"Is that all you have to say?" The tears came pouring down her cheeks now. Draco looked rather uncomfortable.

"But Gin, you know you are the only one I care about," he tried.

"No, I don't know that! How could I?"

"Look, Ginny, I wont be able to tell you this very often, but you're important to me, and I don't want you to ever forget that. Promise me."

"What are you talking about, Draco?" said Ginny bewildered.

"Just promise me."

"I promise," she said gently but still looked at him questioningly.

"Good. Now I'll have to go," he softly stroked her cheek and then walked away, leaving Ginny standing alone on the stairs.

Ginny wandered around in the corridors, still rather confused about what Draco had said earlier. After a while she heard someone approach from behind. She turned and saw Dumbledore.

"Miss Weasley," he said. "Could I have a word?"

"Er... sure," said Ginny.

"Come with me, please."

Dumbledore began walking and Ginny followed. They arrived at Dumbledore's office ('Ton-Tongue Toffee') and Dumbledore asked her to sit down. He walked around the desk, took place opposite her and folded his arms over his chest.

"Have you spoken to Mr Malfoy today?" Dumbledore asked.

"How-" Ginny began, but stopped. "Yes, we spoke just a half an hour ago. Why?"

"And did Mr Malfoy tell you anything in particular?"

"No, but he sounded strange. Professor, what's all this about?"

"I'm afraid I have to inform you that Mr Malfoy has left Hogwarts for an unknown period of time."

"What? Why?" she exclaimed.

"That's up to Mr Malfoy to decide whether he wants to tell you or not."

They sat in silence for a minute or so and then Ginny excused herself, rushing out of the office feeling depressed and sad. She walked slowly to Gryffindor Tower. Entering the Common Room she saw Harry, Ron and Hermione sitting by the fireplace, Harry and Ron laughing maliciously. When Hermione saw Ginny enter she rushed over to her, hugging her comfortingly.

"You okay, Gin?" she asked. Ginny felt the tears pressing against her eyelids. "Come, let's sit down." Hermione led Ginny to the sofa and pushed her down onto it. Ron and Harry stopped laughing when they saw that Ginny was crying.

"Ginny, what's happened?" Ron asked worriedly.

"Nothing you'd care about, Ron."

"Oh... But I know something that'll cheer you up; Malfoy's gone!"

Ginny stared at Ron, wide-eyed, before starting to cry even harder. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed hysterically.

"Ron!" said Hermione accusingly.

"What?" Ron was befuddled.

"Oh..." Harry said. "No! Ginny, no! Malfoy? No!"

"Shut up, Harry," said Hermione, hitting Harry. She turned to Ginny, "Is there anything I can do?"

Ginny shook her head. "No, I'll be fine." She wiped away the tears from her face and rose. "I just want to be alone," she said and left for her dormitory.

Ron, Harry and Hermione watched Ginny as she left them. Then both Harry and Ron turned to Hermione to press her for information about Ginny and Draco, and when she'd finished they all exchanged worried looks before saying their goodnights.

Author Notes: This was the last chapter of Collision Course. But not of the story in itself, we're working on a sequel.

And we want to thank everybody who reviewed!