AN: I've got a bit of writer's block with my other story, "In the Grey," so here is a little bunny that has been hopping around in my head. It was supposed to be a oneshot, but I don't think it is going to happen. Harry Potter belongs to JKR.

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Ginny Weasley liked to tell herself that she was just bored. But she knew that the truth was far deeper than that. She was bored because she didn't want to deal with emotions like hurt, anger, or depression. Instead she made a point to stay constantly busy, which was impossible, so she stayed constantly bored wishing she were busy. Without her brother, her ex, and her bushy-haired best friend around, Hogwarts had become an unpleasant, no, she would correct herself, boring place to be.

Without the trio who could never manage to stay out of trouble, Ginny had to find her own ways of spicing up her life. She was not one to mope. But what was there to do in a big castle all alone? Sure she was technically not alone, but at times one can feel completely alone, though surrounded by people. The problem was that she had never really liked to spend a lot of time with girls- they were too high maintenance; and boys generally saw past her talent and wit to see a flattering figure, and she was through playing the boy scene after her brief romance with the boy who lived.

The month prior, Ginny had finally taken the time out of her "busy" schedule to pore over the map that Harry had given her. Days before he and the others disappeared to do whatever their chosen task was, he had pulled her aside and given her the Marauder's Map. He called it a "defense mechanism." She supposed she was supposed to use it to make sure that no one was in the castle that wasn't supposed to be, and if they were, then she should use it to find a safe place to hide. As if Ginny Weasley had ever been one to hide in a broom closet when in danger. For the sake of sending Harry away on a positive note, however, she had forced a smile and a thank you.

The map was not, however, as ludicrous an idea as she had once thought, though of course not for the reasons it was given to her. Ginny quickly noted the passages out of the school- the perfect remedy for her boredom and her trouble-free semester. Surely anyone who found out would murder her- be it an Order member or a Death Eater- and possible death sounded much more exciting than writing a Muggle Studies essay on dishwashers. Of course, she didn't want to die, or really even put herself in any real danger, but she had been so far removed from any information about the war that it no longer seemed real- or maybe she didn't want it to.

Nevertheless, she began planning an escape to Hogsmeade on a particularly dull weekend. She figured that to get out of the castle would be wonderful. She could have some butterbeer, buy some jokes, and gorge herself on sweets. She didn't really put a whole lot of thought into how she would disguise herself so that she wouldn't get caught, but she figured no one would care anyway. It was, of course, completely misguided of her to think that villagers wouldn't notice a Hogwarts student traipsing around the town, but such was her logic at the time.

The sun had finally set, and Ginny was ready to make her escape via the hunch-backed witch. She grabbed a few things, suited up for the night chill and snuck down to the statue and into the passage without a hitch. And that is when she got a little too over confident.

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Ginny crouched in the corner of Honeyduke's cellar waiting impatiently for the pudgy old clerk to go back upstairs. Honestly, she thought, this is absolutely ridiculous. Who is even watching the shop while he is down here? I wouldn't be surprised if he made himself comfortable and had a little sit-down with a box of chocolates. And that is precisely what the man did. Ginny rocked back onto her ankles and sighed audibly.

The man looked startled and gazed into the shadowy corner that she sat in. Ginny covered her mouth, partly in horror that she had been stupid enough to make a sound and partly to stop herself giggling, because the look on the poor man's face was positively priceless. Any thought of giggling was quickly quelled, however, as the pudgy man started to move toward her, his wand held high.

"Who's over there?" he called. Ginny's eyes widened. Why hasn't he just used lumos and gotten this awful situation over already?

"Jasper, what on earth is taking you so long? You were supposed to grab some cockroach clusters and get right back!"

The pudgy man, Jasper, grimaced, and Ginny shoved a wad of her robe into her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. He glanced once more at her corner, then longingly at his pile of chocolates before heading up the stairs replying, "On my way."

Ginny rolled her eyes at the whole situation, then stealthily slipped up the stairs and past poor Jasper who was being scolding for forgetting to bring up the cockroach clusters, which was the whole purpose of his fifteen minute sojourn downstairs.

Once outside of the shop, she drew a deep breath of chilly air and reveled in the feeling of freedom. It had been so long since she had been able to escape the watchful eyes of her professors, parents, and the Order members. Too long, she decided.

She quickly and discreetly made her way toward the Three Broomsticks, but stopped short and darted into a shadow as she heard the booming voice of her potions teacher, Professor Slughorn. Blast! How many things can go wrong in one night? she thought bitterly. More than she expected. The Hog's Head was out of the question for a quick butterbeer, because she knew that she would be recognized without a doubt, and probably not by anyone respectable. Now the Three Broomsticks was vetoed on account of her professor who would surely have her expelled, Slug Club, or not.

Off to Zonko's then, she though disappointedly. The butterbeer would have helped to warm her chilled bones. When she neared the shop, though, she saw that her bad luck was only beginning. Closed! How can it be closed! Bloody Voldemort and his bloody Death Eaters ruining all of my fun!

Ginny soon found out, however, that Voldemort was not the only reason for closed shops. Her idea to come after sunset so that she wouldn't stand out as much was apparently a bad one. Most shops that had remained open despite heightened security closed early. Usually at sundown. But of course poor Ginny wasn't really thinking about that, but about the freedom of the outside world and the exhilaration of rule breaking.

She disappointedly made her way back to Honeyduke's so that she could just go back to the castle and get in her warm bed. What she found when she arrived at the shop, however, was not a pleasant sight.

"CLOSED." Closed! Closed! How the bloody hell do you expect me to get home! Sweets shop indeed! You are nothing but a bunch of mean-spirited, pudgy, candy-eaters! How dare you lock me out!

"How dare you!" she shouted and rapped loudly on the glass. A light flashed on a back room, and a light bulb flickered on in Ginny's head. Bad idea! she thought, and she ran for it, vaguely registering the sound of a door opening behind her and hushed voices.

Ginny ran to the gate of the Shrieking Shack, intending to go through its passage and somehow, though she had no idea how yet, get past the Whomping Willow. Unfortunately, the moon had an eerie effect on the shack, and though Ginny would never admit it, it looked terrifying. She sunk to the ground in frustration.

This is amazingly ridiculous! I can't even sneak out properly! Well I suppose the sneaking out worked just fine; it is the getting in that is the problem… She groaned as a shiver ran up her spine. I suppose I'll need to get out of the night wind and find somewhere to stay the night.

Ginny had always been very independent, so she was not really worried about spending the night alone outside Hogsmeade, war or no. She quickly ran through a list of ideas in her head and settled upon looking for the cave that Harry told her about when they were sneaking out to see Sirius.

The going was difficult, especially without light to guide her way; Ginny was not foolish enough to broadcast her presence in such a way, so she stumbled up the hill and through the branches. Finally she found a place the rock where the moonlight was swallowed into a gaping hole. Perfect.

Ginny quietly made her way to the cave, but just as she stepped in, she saw a movement and aimed a quick "Stupefy" at the shadow. She heard a decidedly non-animalistic groan as the shadow fell to the ground. She checked outside the cave to make sure she was alone before moving forward to see what, or who, she had just stunned. It was not, as she had suspected, just some wild creature.

It was a boy. A platinum-haired, pale-faced, Malfoy boy to be precise. Ginny drew an enormous breath and nearly fell to the ground.

Malfoy. Dumbledore's would-be murderer. The reason Bill is… the way he is. The snot-faced little git who had made my life hell since before I started Hogwarts. Ginny shook her head in disbelief.

Malfoy was missing. Well, not to Ginny any longer, but to the wizarding world Malfoy was a missing, and wanted, man. After he and Snape fled the castle, neither had been seen. Until now.

What should I do? Ginny had no idea how to proceed. She stared at his prone body for what seemed like ages before she realized that she should at least bind him and take his wand in case he came around before she figured out how to handle the situation. So she did and continued to stare. She was in shock.

What the bloody hell is he doing out here? And why is he covered in dirt? His pallid skin is paler than ever, and his pointy face is bonier than ever. And what the bloody hell is he doing out here? she repeated.

She ran through possible plans of action, but most of them required her to explain what exactly she had been doing in a cave outside Hogsmeade in the middle of the night. And that just did not sound like a good idea.

Then there were the conflicting ideas of if she were to turn him in, to whom would she do it? The Ministry wanted him for an accomplice in murder. The Order wanted him for… protection, she assumed. She had overheard the older members arguing with Harry about the boy- they wanted to protect him as Harry had told them Dumbledore had offered. Harry was incensed that they would even consider it after the destruction he had caused. Ginny supposed she could see both sides… to a degree. Though the thought of him rotting away in Azkaban was much more satisfying than the thought of him haughtily wandering around Grimmauld Place.

Hours later, after lots of shivering, staring, and incoherent thoughts, the subject of Ginny's confusion awoke. She was immediately roused from her blank expression as she heard a cough and saw him struggle to sit up, then gasp and turn his head toward her and her lighted wand.

The next day, after a bit more sleep and contemplation, Ginny determined that the look on his face in that moment was heart breaking, but at time it just seemed crazed.

"Weasley!" Malfoy choked out. He looked down at his bound hands and feet, then crazily around the room as if looking for everyone else.

Ginny furrowed her brow and continued to stare. After a few moments, though, as Malfoy stared intently out the mouth of the cave, she wondered if he saw someone she didn't, and she grabbed up her wand and spun quickly around in defense. It was lucky for her that there actually was no one, because her spin resulted in a painful crashing of her skull into the low ceiling of the cave, and she doubled over in pain clutching her head.

Then Malfoy had the nerve to laugh at her. Not a spiteful laugh, or a happy laugh, but one of those maniacal crazed laughs that are truly terrifying, and Ginny looked wide-eyed up at him from her position on the floor a few feet away. He quickly stopped.

Ginny swallowed and took a deep breath while rubbing the lump on her head. "Does anyone else know you are out here, Malfoy?"

Crazed Malfoy quickly assumed a face she recognized well, the Malfoy sneer. "Oh yes, I send postcards to my friends at the Ministry at least once a week. And my father, how he and the Dark Lord must miss me, we converse by lengthy owl post as often as I can spare the time."

Ginny rolled her eyes, no Malfoy had not changed a bit- well maybe he had… gone mental. She wondered if he really was mental and if he was actually trying to send those letters. He probably ties them to poor little forest sparrows that cant hold the weight and end up pecking the letters off as soon as they get out of his sight. The thought of Malfoy luring sparrows into his cave and tying letters to their tiny legs caused her to laugh out loud.

Crazy-eyed Malfoy was back, though, and Ginny didn't appreciate it one bit, so she quickly stifled her laugh. Malfoy looked at her calculatingly for a moment then asked, "Are you mental?"

"Oh, yes, I am, Malfoy. That is why I am living in a cave sending off letters to Voldemort tied to sparrows."

"Sparrows? You know they couldn't hold the weight of a letter…"

"But honestly, does anyone know you are out here? Anyone at all?"

"They didn't. Now I'm sure half the bloody country does thanks to you."

"I'll have you know that I was very quiet on my way up here, and I was not followed, thank you very much."

Malfoy gave her one of those looks that would have made Einstein feel like an idiot. "Are you really that big of an imbecile?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I meant that you have probably already alerted your precious Potter and half the Ministry by now. Maybe even the Muggle Prime Minister. Just to be safe."

"I'll have you know that I have done no such thing… yet."

Malfoy looked taken aback. "You haven't told anyone?"

"… no?" I should have lied, Ginny thought, now if he murders me no one will know. If he knew someone was coming he wouldn't dare try anything. Oh you are a clever one…

Malfoy breathed in a sigh of relief, leaned back against the wall, and let his eyes flutter shut. From behind closed eyes, he asked, "Why not?"

"I couldn't decide who to tell. Or if it was worth sacrificing my own life to have you caught."

"Yeah, just what are you doing in my cave in the middle of the night anyway?"

"I snuck out," she said simply.

Malfoy's eyes opened, and he stared at her dumbfounded. "The entire wizarding world is at war, and you just… snuck out?"

Ginny nodded. Well, when he puts it that way, I feel like a bit of a moron, don't I?

"Right. Well, you are either completely mental or really brave… and still completely mental."

"Yes, well, at least I am not living in a cave. And… and I'm wearing clean robes. You're all," she motioned toward him, "covered in dirt."

"I can hardly pop into the dry cleaners, can I?"

"It's your own fault, really."

Malfoy's eyes narrowed. "Is there a reason that you have intruded on my solitude, besides the fact that I am covered in dirt and that you were bored?"

"I couldn't get back into the castle, could I? My passage was blocked, and I had to get out of the night air. Sirius Black stayed here once. I thought I could too, you know. I never thought it would be such a sought after location."

Malfoy wrinkled his nose. "That filthy Black lived here? That's it. I'd rather go sleep on the Ministry's doorstep. Unbind me so I can get away from here."

"Oh right, he's a pureblood, and he supposedly murdered the Potters and a load of muggles. I'm sure you can't stand the man. Have nothing in common, do you?"

"You know he was framed as well as I. I will not praise him for something he did not do. As for being a pureblood, he was a blood traitor just like you, and we all know how much I want to flee from the sight of you and your filthy red hair."

"Just shut up, Malfoy. Why does it always come down to you throwing that blood traitor crap at me?"

Malfoy looked completely taken aback. "Did you tell me to shut up?"

"Yes."

"You… you shut up."

Ginny sniggered. "No, you shut up."

Malfoy frowned. "No, you."

"You."

"You."

"This is really childish, you realized that, right, Malfoy?"

And Malfoy began to laugh. Not a crazy laugh this time, but a genuine one. So Ginny did too.

"Completely nutters, that one," Ginny muttered under her breath as she regained control of her heaving sides.

"So what are you going to do with me?" Malfoy asked after a period of thoughtful silence.

"I haven't decided."

"If you don't mind," he replied carefully, "I'd rather not go to Azkaban."

Ginny eyed him. "Tell me why I shouldn't do it then."

Malfoy sighed. "Because I didn't… kill him. I tried, don't get me wrong, but I didn't. I didn't really want to. I was trying to protect my Mum. Then he offered protection for her, and you know. I didn't do it."

"But you opened the path for all of those Death Eaters into the school. A lot of people were hurt. My brother was one of them."

He sat in silence for a few moments, and then so quietly that she almost didn't hear it, he said, "I'm sorry."

"You're what! Did you just apologize? What the bloody hell have you done to Draco Malfoy, and where are you keeping your polyjuice potion?"

Malfoy blinked a few times, then looked at her to see a smirk on her face. "Right, well, if that's what I get for apologizing I take it back."

"Apology accepted. I'm sure you didn't really mean it, but the fact that you even forced it out of your mouth and directed it at a blood traitor is progress enough for one night."

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "But seriously, the sun is coming up, what are you going to do with me? This being at your mercy thing is getting a bit annoying, really."

Ginny turned to see the first flecks of color in the sky. "So it is. I'll have to get back to the castle soon." She sat thoughtfully for a few moments. "Why are you sleeping in a cave, Malfoy?"

"Are you serious? I've got the ministry after me for an accomplice to murder and the Dark Lord after me for a failed murder. Hiding is precisely where I need to be right now."

Ginny sighed and stood up. She walked to the front of the cave and peered out before returning to Malfoy. "What do you eat? I am famished, and I doubt Honeyduke's will open at the crack of dawn."

Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "Honeyduke's has a passage to Hogwarts? Interesting." Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Food?" she reminded him.

He frowned, and then said, "I've got a loaf of bread behind that stone in the corner."

Ginny walked over, and saw a small loaf of bread. She carried it over to where Malfoy had sat bound all night and sat cross-legged facing him.

"I don't fancy feeding you by hand, so I am going to unbind you, but I still have your wand, and if you try anything funny I will snap it in half."

Malfoy nodded, and Ginny removed the invisible binds holding his hands and feet. She handed him most of the bread, just tearing off a small piece for herself.

"You need it more than me, and I wouldn't take any at all, but I am starving. Sorry," she said.

"That's okay… Thanks for taking off the binding."

Ginny smiled. "Now that sounded much more genuine than your apology earlier! And you are welcome," she added seeing his face sour.

The unlikely pair sat in silence for a bit munching on their stale bread before Ginny finally said, "I won't tell anyone."

Malfoy looked at her appraisingly for a moment before saying, "Thank you."

Ginny nodded, stood, and made for the door. At the entrance, though, she stopped and turned. "You may need this, Malfoy," she said, and tossed him his wand. Were it not for his quidditch reflexes, she was sure it would have clattered to the floor at his feet based on the stunned look on his face. "Don't do anything stupid," she warned as she left the cave without turning back.

Draco Malfoy was stunned silent.

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AN: No, definitely not a oneshot. Shoot me a review and let me know what you think.