Chapter 1

Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter were sitting on a bench in The Burrow's garden and talking. It was almost time for dinner; sun was slowly sinking to the horizon – and Ginny's heart was beating faster and faster at the thought of what she was about to say.

'I… I really think that we… Well, we know each other so well and… I thought that… it would be possible, since you know…' It was very hard for Ginny to say this. She's never asked a guy out before, let alone Harry Potter. She'd only had one romantic experience with him: it was her singing valentine in her first year and it was awful. However, this time was even worse. Somehow Ginny thought that this could work – after all, he was single as far as she knew, she was single for sure, they had a good relationship and… and her silly crush on him, which she got even before Hogwarts, never did go away.

Harry looked very lost for some reason. He was probably not used to girls asking him out either, or perhaps he was stunned to hear it from Ginny.

'So well, I thought that we could go out, because you know, Harry…' she was stuttering; he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but she raised her hand, silencing him. 'Just let me finish… I just wanted you to know that ever since I got a crush on you god knows how many years ago… I never stopped feeling that way and well… now my feelings developed into something deeper and… and I knew it could work between us, Harry, because we've been friends for so long and we know each other and we get along and it's just that… I… I love you, Harry, I really do.' Ginny finished on a strong note, fighting the urge to shut her eyes and run away. The bridges were burnt. There was no going back – the words were said. Now it was up to Harry…

A couple of leaves fell off a tree nearby, rustling softly as they landed on the ground.

'Blimey, Ginny, this is…' Harry ran his hand through his forever unruly hair, seemingly at loss for words. 'I'm really – honoured and… but…'

That 'but' made her heart drop. Ginny raised her head and looked at him.

'Ginny, I – I don't really know how to say this…' Oh god, he looked so uncomfortable. 'I value your friendship very highly and I think that you're a wonderful girl and…' he gulped, 'you're pretty…'

Ginny would've laughed at his awkwardness if the situation wasn't tragic.

'… but you don't feel the same way about me as I do about you,' she finished for him, trying to hide bitterness and pain in her voice.

'No, it's a bit – more – complicated than that,' Harry adjusted his glasses and sighed. 'I suppose I should be the one to tell you this, but… me and… oh shit. Gin, I really didn't want to make it difficult for you, I never thought that…'

'Out with it, Harry,' Ginny said in a tired voice, pretending that she didn't care that much, while hurt and humiliation were burning her up inside.

'Well… I and Hermione were going to announce today that we are engaged.'

Ginny would prefer to be killed right there and right then. She felt physical pain, as if she was stabbed by a sword somewhere around the middle. She opened her mouth, deciding to say something, but no words came out. Instead, she felt that if she'd utter a syllable, she'd burst out crying. She couldn't allow that to happen. Not in front of Harry. She had her pride…

She stood up, being perfectly aware that Harry's eyes followed her – probably, with pity. That added anger to her pain. She didn't need his pity… she was humiliated enough without him sympathizing with her.

'Well, that's great,' she hoped that her voice sounded calm and distant, but realized that it didn't. 'I…' her voice broke. 'I hope you'll be happy together.'

'Oh Gin, I really didn't want to – I didn't think that – I'm sor-'

His voice was filled with tenderness, regret and – unmistakably – pity. Ginny interrupted him angrily.

'Don't give me that! I'm not blaming you for anything, am I? I'm just…' Oh no. Tears were welling up and she couldn't control them. 'I… Oh, forget it, it's nothing, I meant it as a joke anyway,' she lied feebly and ran away, leaving him standing there and looking at her retreating back with sadness.

Ginny ran further into the garden, sobbing. Then she came near her favourite tree – the one she always used to climb at and read when she was a kid – and collapsed under it. This has been the most humiliating thing that has ever happened to me, she thought.

The apple tree rustled its leaves as if in comfort.

'Yes, this was the most horrible, humiliating thing that has ever happened to me,' Ginny said chokingly, tears running down her cheeks with such rigour that the Niagara Falls could have been jealous. 'I have just spilled my soul onto Harry Potter and he… he… not only doesn't he love me – he is going to marry Hermione! Hermione, of all people! They're ENGAGED… what a horrible word, engaged….' She continued sobbing uncontrollably, unable to really grasp what had just happened. She confessed her love to Harry Potter. Moreover, when he tried to stop her before she said too much she "cleverly" silenced him and went on rambling about her undying love. God, how stupid am I, Ginny thought miserably.

Then she realized that it was probably time to go for dinner and that she had to calm down and go face Harry and her family again. However, she did just the opposite: started crying, doubling the effort, and felt totally unable to come back. Facing Harry just now seemed the worst idea ever. She imagined him sitting at the table, smiling at Hermione and talking to her… and even though in normal circumstances Ginny had absolutely nothing against Hermione Granger, right then she felt absolute loathing for the girl. It was all her fault, of course. If it wasn't for Granger – Ginny wasn't even aware of calling her by her last name – she would've been engaged to Harry by now. And now it seemed that she was the only one in the whole Weasley clan, or better say the entire universe, who did not have a normal love life. It all seemed to be going horribly wrong. Even Ron found himself a girlfriend, for god's sakes!

Ginny sad there, brooding over her thoughts. Her life was absolutely horrible (of course, it wasn't really; she had loving parents and brothers and supportive friends, but she didn't value all of them that highly at the moment).  And she did not want to go back to the house, to sit at the same table with all those happy people, which came for the family dinner… oh she just had to ask Harry out at the big family dinner! Everyone was there. Everyone. Even Aunt Georgina, whom Ginny only met once in her life. However, everyone was there to see her humiliated, downcast and forlorn. This was just great.

After five more minutes she calmed down a little bit. After all, this was about time when she came back. Otherwise people would come looking for her… which would be even worse. And what if – blood froze in her veins – what if Harry will tell someone what had happened? No, no, no, Harry wasn't like that; he wouldn't tell… he would understand that it would make things even worse for her. And he didn't want to make her suffer. He pitied her…

The thought of Harry pitying Ginny nearly brought her down sobbing again, but she collected herself. Get a grip, Ginevra Weasley, she thought. Come on. This is not the end of the world. Maybe it seems like it is, but it probably isn't. But it's so bloody similar to the end of the world…

Ginny walked into the dining room and stopped at the entrance. As she had predicted, everyone was there.

'Oh, there you are,' her dad said cheerfully.

'Come in, come in, we've already started,' her mom added.

'Sit here, Gin,' Ron offered, motioning her to the place near him.

'Hello, Ginny,' Luna drawled dreamily and smiled slightly as Ron put his hand around her waist again.

'Hey sis,' Fred and George said in unison.

'Hey Ginny,' Angelina, Fred's surprisingly long-term girlfriend, smiled at her.

'Hey Gins,' Alicia, George's girl, grinned.

'Oh you've grown up so much,' Aunt Georgina exclaimed.

'How've you been, Gin?' Bill asked.

'Hello, how are you?' Fleur said straight after him. Bill's eyes went to her immediately.

'Hi girl,' Charlie flashed his smile. Lucia, his Romanian girlfriend, smiled too.

'Hello.'

'Hi there Ginny,' Hermione said, smiling in a friendly way. Harry, who was sitting next to her, muttered something unintelligible.

The sound of Hermione's voice brought the overwhelmed Ginny back to reality.

'Hi all, nice to see you again,' she murmured shyly and took her seat between Aunt Georgina and Bill – the only free one left. She tried avoiding looking at either Harry or Hermione and did her best to seem cheerful. However, Ginny Weasley was never good at pretence. None of the Weasleys were. None of the Gryffindors, in fact. Well, except Harry, but Harry was different, unique. He had something Slytherinish about him – and that made him only more attractive in her eyes…

This was a very wrong time for thinking about any Harry Potters, however, because those Harrys would anytime now announce that they were getting engaged to some Hermiones.

Sometime into the dinner (Ginny had talked to Fleur and Bill about their new apartment, unwilling to get engaged in a conversation with Aunt Georgina), there seemed to be some motion on Harry's and Hermione's side of the table. Ron was laughing and then Ginny heard him say, "Well you gotta do it sometime, mate". Her heart flew down with outstanding acceleration and crashed into the floor under the table. Was he going to announce his and Hermione's engagement?? Surely he couldn't do it to her… but then again, she realized, he couldn't explain to other people why he wouldn't do it, unless he told them she confessed her love to him… The memory of the talk they had made her blush a deep shade of magenta. To her relief, no one noticed, because at that moment Ron attracted everyone's attention by tapping his fork on the glass.

'Well, we have a happy announcement to make,' Ron said, smiling mischievously. 'Would the guilty parties manage by themselves or do I have to be their MC for the night?' He asked Harry and Hermione. Hermione's face was flushed. It was one of the few times Ginny's seen the former Hogwarts Head Girl so embarrassed. Ginny felt a tinge of gladness at Hermione's discomfort, even though she knew it was wrong to think that way. Harry looked torn between amusement and awkwardness.

'You're doing quite well, Ron, go on then.'

Ron chuckled and went on. Ginny's nerves seemed to tighten in a knot. She was waiting for him to say it – that Harry and Hermione were engaged. And then she'd break down and cry, she was sure.

'Is everyone listening? Can everyone see me?' Ron fooled around for a bit, prolonging the moment he obviously enjoyed. Then he said, 'Tampapapam – these were the drums if you didn't get it – and I'm here to announce that Harry Potter and Hermione Granger… are… ENGAGED!"

There was a round of 'ooooh's and 'aaaahs' around the table. Ginny did her best to smile and look pleased for them. However, for a few seconds she let her guard down. She couldn't just pretend like that. She was never good at that… and in those several moments when she looked miserable and actually on the verge of tears, she met Ron's eyes, and there was unmistakable concern in them. She realised immediately that he knew. She could tell it from his worried face that he understood that she was in pain, that he was wrong thinking that she got over Harry a long time ago… that in fact she never did. Ginny forced a fake smile on her face, but she knew Ron wasn't convinced. Oh, whatever, she decided. She knew he'd question her later, but she didn't want to think about it now…

'So how come you're still single, darling?' Aunt Georgina asked her in that nice understanding tone, which always masks curiosity of people who ask you why your love life sucks.

'Umm,' Ginny answered, pretending to be busy putting salad onto her plate.

'Darling, at your age it is not healthy for a girl to still be single,' Aunt Georgina went on pompously. 'What are you now, nineteen, Ginevra?'

'Yes,' Ginny answered, cursing her fate for seating her next to the greatest gossiper in her family – well now that Fleur added in, Aunt Georgina could perhaps be challenged, but still… and Ginny just had to be single and on the verge of hysterics when she met her.

'I was already married at your age,' Aunt Georgina went on in her superior manner. 'I don't know what your parents are thinking about…'

Ginny nearly choked. Really, what are my parents thinking, she thought sarcastically. They should've gotten me married to Harry ages ago and spared me the trouble of seeing him marry Hermione…

'Now now Aunt Georgina, give poor Ginny some peace,' Bill chuckled. 'She's too young to get married.'

'She most definitely isn't!' Aunt Georgina looked scandalized. 'Nineteen! I was already married at that age!' She puffed in indignation. Billed laughed and Fleur smiled.

'Things are different these days, Aunt Georgina,' Bill said. 'Girls don't get married too young anymore…'

'Well your wife married you!' Aunt Georgina pointed out. Bill's face lit up and Fleur smiled.

'My wife… my wife is special.'

Bill turned to Fleur and said something softly; she laughed. Usually Ginny found their tenderness cute, but right now she thought it was disgusting.

'By the way, speaking of Ginny's marriage,' Mr. Weasley chuckled suddenly. 'I have heard a very amusing story at work today. Apparently, our Ginny's got a boyfriend and she's getting married to him quite soon.'

There was a murmur of interest and confusion around the table. Ginny froze, hoping that it wasn't anything to do with Harry. Her brain knew that nobody could know about her love for Harry, but her rational side wasn't in charge of her and she feared, against everything, that her humiliation could become public…

'Who is the lucky guy, then?' Charlie asked, smiling. Mr. Weasley let out a chortle.

'Draco Malfoy, would you believe.'

The table erupted with voices demanding clarification or just laughing. Ginny noticed that Ron was torn between the two.

'Just let me finish', Mr. Weasley said with amusement in his eyes as he looked over to his daughter. 'I have heard from one of my colleagues today that Mr. Malfoy is in a relationship with some girl from a respectable family. He said he'd heard it from someone else, and that someone else heard it from… well, you get the idea. Mr. Malfoy apparently talked to someone and said that he is getting married soon. No one mentioned any names – it was said that Mr. Malfoy didn't mention any names either – but it was clear from the description that he meant our Ginny.'

Ginny was stunned. She wanted to know more, but she didn't need to ask any questions – there were enough people demanding details.

'Are you sure this is what happened?'

'What exactly did he say?'

'Why would he say that?'

'I don't know,' Mr. Weasley raised his hands in the air. 'My colleague said that the girl is a pureblood from a family that Malfoys wouldn't normally associate with. There were some minor characteristics, which I forgot. Something about her being neither a blonde nor a brunette, but I'm not entirely sure. As to why Mr. Malfoy would say any of this…' Mr. Weasley paused for a few seconds and sighed. 'Well, I guess nobody will ever know what is going on at the back of his mind.'

'It wouldn't bring him any benefits at work, would it?' Bill asked curiously.

'Hm, well, it might. After all, a married man's status does have its social benefits,' He beamed at Mrs. Weasley. 'People start looking at you with more consideration after you've settled. Besides, it could help his reputation. Right now his position with the Ministry is, no doubt, secure…' Mr. Weasley sighed, as if he regretted greatly that Ministry dealt with Malfoy at all, 'but his collaboration with wizarding mafia – or him heading the wizarding mafia – having all those mysteries AND numerous females around him… well, it hinders his credibility a tiny bit. Not enough, though, so I don't really see what more he can want.' Mr. Weasley finished his little speech on a disgusted note.

'Draco Malfoy… son of Lucius Malfoy, isn't he?' Aunt Georgina asked dreamily. 'Narcissa, too, of course. Tragic end his father had, really tragic. And such a good family…'

'Excuse me,' Mrs. Weasley burst out incredulously before anyone else did, 'did I hear you say that Malfoys are a good family?!'

'Well, naturally,' Aunt Georgina said, unabashed. 'Such proper family – it's a tragedy that Lucius had turned to the wrong side, of course, but they had had an excellent reputation for years.'

'Yeah, whatever,' Ron spat out, his face red with fury. 'Malfoy is the most arrogant, filthy prick and -'

'That's enough, Ron, we've grasped the essence,' Bill smiled. Ginny wondered just how Bill managed to stay cool in all situations. Bill could have been an excellent diplomat.

Ron still looked red and angry; Luna, Harry and Hermione were saying something to him quietly. The others started talking between themselves too. Ginny looked at Ron/Luna, Harry/Hermione group and suddenly felt herself tense up again. How come everyone was happy and in a perfect relationship except for her? They have always excluded me, she thought unfairly. They always had their little gang. Ron, Harry and Hermione. The Golden Trio of Hogwarts. Always there to save the day. And who was Ginny? Just a sidekick. Someone who gets in trouble, opens the Chamber of Secrets, gets rescued by the Great Trio and then gets shoved away by them. Whenever they needed to discuss a secret – which happened about 23 hours a day out of 24 – Ron would just tell her to go away in plain words. She was always his little sister. She was never permitted into their tight circle. And now Harry and Hermione paired up nicely. Ron had gotten over Hermione ages ago and hooked up with Luna – for goodness' sake, even a freak like Luna could find a decent guy!

Well, I've found a wonderful guy. Too bad the feeling isn't mutual, Ginny thought darkly.

Ah, Harry would have been so perfect. He was tall, handsome, with that black stubborn hair and those captivating green eyes… he was a hero, a proper hero, one whom she could worship… he saved the world from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, he… he was smart, funny, he had the depth in him that none of the other guys had, he was more mature than any guys at his age – he was everything, absolutely everything that she wanted her boyfriend to be.

Except for one minor obstacle. He was Hermione Granger's fiancé.

Ginny snapped back into reality when she realized Bill was talking to her.

'So shall we go, then?'

Looking around, Ginny saw that the dinner was over and people were moving away from the table.

'Yeah…'

'You seem a bit distracted. Is everything okay?' Bill sounded concerned.

'Yeah, it's all good,' Ginny forced a smile, but it was a miserable one.

'You aren't really dating Draco Malfoy, are you?' Bill joked, his eyebrow raised.

Ginny just laughed, but stopped quickly as she saw Ron approaching her, his eyes serious.

'Gin… We need to talk.'

Ginny looked around for Bill, but he was already by Fleur's side, telling her something and hugging her. God, all that mushy romance…

'About what?' Ginny pretended not to understand.

'Let's go outside, shall we?'

Ginny had no choice but to go with him. To her dismay, Ron took her to exact spot where she confessed her love for Harry. That immediately worsened her already bad mood.

'So what did you want?' She asked, rather crossly.

'Ginny, no need to get so defensive,' Ron said. 'You cannot deny what I saw tonight at dinner. You still like Harry.'

'No I don't,' Ginny said angrily. Yes, the only thing she needed right now was her family trying to talk to her about Harry!

'I thought you were over him years ago. I honestly didn't know. I'm sorry if I hurt you to announce their engagement like that. It was my idea, you know. Harry didn't want to do it tonight.'

'Ron, I don't give a damn when you announce Harry's and Hermione's engagement!' Ginny said heatedly. Ron looked taken aback at hearing his sister swear.

'Now, Ginny…'

'Don't "Now Ginny" me, Ron! I don't need any of your understanding lectures about me and Harry. I don't feel anything for Harry. He's my friend, that's all. I wish him and Hermione all the best.'

Ginny was getting angrier and angrier. If Ron realized that she still liked Harry, he could at least keep quiet! Didn't he understand that he was making things a thousand times worse?

'Bullshit!' Ron burst irritably. 'I saw your eyes, you were close to tears!'

'I don't know what's up with your vision, Ronald Weasley, maybe you need to go to St. Mungo's to check your eyes, because you're obviously seeing things!'

'I see that my sister is trying to bullshit me!'

'Don't give me that crap!' Ginny burst. 'I've had enough of this.'

'So have I!' Ron shouted. 'I'm not saying anything bad, I'm trying to be helpful and I get bullshit in return!'

'I don't know what you're trying to be, but you're succeeding only at being a moron!'

'What did you say?!' Ron exclaimed in fury. 'What did you just call me?'

'A moron!' Ginny repeated. 'And a stubborn one at that! Why would you think I'm in love with Harry?'

'Because you are! You can admit it to me, I won't tell him! You will feel better!'

'I will feel better when you stop being such an idiot!'

Ginny suddenly felt like taking all of her frustration out on anyone – even if it was her own brother.

'So will you please shut up?'

'No I won't! I see that my sister is in trouble, and…'

'I'm sick and tired of this! Can you just leave it and believe me when I say I have no feelings for Harry?!'

'No!'

Ginny felt that like strangling Ron. She wanted to do anything – anything to shut him up.

'Just shut up, ok?'

'No I won't until you tell me what's up with you!'

'Nothing is up with me! In fact, I'm perfectly fine and I've never been better!'

'And how about your love life, huh?' Ron retorted.

'It's flourishing, Ron, my love life is bloody great!'

'Oh yeah? And your heart isn't crying over some Harry Potter? And you've got a boyfriend?'

'Yes!' Ginny said before she understood what she was saying. Ron snorted.

'Yes? Who?'

'I'm not sure you want to know,' Ginny replied, 'since I'm afraid you won't stand the feeling of your illusions breaking… 'Cause it's not Harry…'

'Well who is it, then?' Ron asked in that clearly disbelieving voice, challenging her.

Ginny grabbed her only chance of getting out of this without being humiliated.

'You've heard what dad said today, but you haven't made any connections, have you?' She sneered. Her anger was taking better of her now. When she was angry, she could pull out the sneering. It hurt less… 'Goodness, Ron, you're so hopeless.' She waved her hand. 'I'm dating Draco, Ron. DRACO MALFOY.'

Ron was stunned for a second. Then he recovered.

'Very funny, Gin.'

'You're free not to believe me. I thought you'd be touched to know that you're the first one I've told this to.'

'This is yet another piece of bullshit…'

'Yeah, you go on believing that. And I've had enough of you. Say bye from me to all those people at the party. I'm going.'

'Going where?!'

'Away for a while. I need to cool off after this conversation.'

'Hah, so I've touched a nerve, haven't I?' Ron asked triumphantly.

'No, Ron, you got on my nerves, on all of them,' Ginny sighed. 'Besides… I promised to meet Draco tonight for a while. He wanted to say something urgent to me.'

'Yeah, right,' Ron said.

Ginny shrugged and started walking away for real. She did need to cool down. Right now she felt she would bite anyone's head off.

'See ya later,' Ron called after her, but she didn't bother to respond. Anger, boiling anger was coursing through her. Who did he think he was? So what he's her brother, he doesn't need to get under her skin! She didn't want to talk about her crush on Harry to anyone… and definitely not Ron, Harry's best friend. And she told him that she was going out with Draco Malfoy. Now, wasn't this just grand… how on earth would she ever get out of this one?

Ginny was walking on the road from Ottery St. Catchpole. Damn it, I left my wand at home, Ginny thought. This was the last straw.

'That's it!' She said out loud in frustration. 'If everything has to be horrible, I'll give them horrible. I'll make them all regret this. I'll make Harry regret this; I'll make Ron regret this. I'll make them all see me as someone else than Ginny-the-stupid-little-girl. My life is messed up forever, I don't care what happens to me, but I'll make them all regret…'

She didn't clarify even to herself whom she wanted to make regret. She only knew that she wanted to do something horrible – something scandalous – something… something that she wouldn't have done in normal circumstances.

Ginny thrust her hand up and the next second, naturally, the Knight Bus stopped with a bang next to her. Ginny bit her lower lip, wondering whether she was doing the right thing, but she didn't have much time for thinking. Stan, the conductor, came out merrily.

'Good evening, good evening, miss. Hop on, please. Where is it that you want to go?'

Ginny came onto the bus and then considered quickly. Going straight to Malfoy Manor would be less than clever. Where else could Malfoy be? The Ministry of Magic? Some pub? Club? Restaurant? Ginny recalled hearing from her dad that Malfoy was frequently seen at some restaurant called something…

'To "La Seine", please,' Ginny told Stan. He gave her a weird look and then said,

'Sure. Money, please. Yes, now make yourself comfortable, please…'

Ginny sat down and tried to ignore the bumping of the bus. Ok so what am I doing, exactly, she asked herself. I'm sort of going to meet Draco Malfoy who is, um, my family's and my personal archenemy. What a splendid idea – to go to meet him. I wonder whether I mean to ask him to marry me after all or what…

Ginny threw those ideas out of her head when she thought again of how irrational and annoying Ron was being, how Harry pitied her and how she felt totally out of place in her family circle. Everyone was so happy – every single one of them – except for her. She just couldn't stand being there any longer…

The Bus stopped as suddenly as it started going.

'"La Seine", Miss,' Stan said.

'Thanks,' Ginny muttered and left the bus. Now she felt completely certain that she made the wrong decision and turned to get back onto the Bus, but it already left with a huge BANG.

Ginny was standing in front of a very trendy and expensive-looking restaurant. She was not sure that she wanted to go in there and look for Malfoy. She wasn't sure she wanted to go in at all. She was standing in front of the restaurant's door, looking very weird and small next to the grand place in her simple jeans and a shirt. Out went several ladies in evening dresses, with little fashionable bags, on high heels and with diamonds glistening on them. The ladies didn't pay any attention to a shy girl standing next to the restaurant; only one of them looked her up and down, wrinkled her nose and went on. Ginny started fuming at once – who did they think they were, queens of the world? So what that Ginny didn't seem to belong there at all? It was their problem, not hers.

Ginny drew a deep breath and came right up to the door. It was swung open for her by the waiters; one of them looked at her doubtfully and asked:

'Would miss like a table for one?'

Ginny didn't know what to answer, because she knew she wouldn't have any money to eat in the place and because she was sure she'd feel stupid if she just walked in and Malfoy wasn't there. Then she'd have to go and feel like an even bigger idiot than she did now.

The waiters were already giving her weird looks when she was shaken out of her thoughts by oh-so-familiar drawling voice behind her:

'Is that a Weasley I see here? This place is definitely going down, then…'

Ginny whirled around and found herself staring right into Draco Malfoy's face.