Ginny was scared. It was late, Filch seemed to be around every corner and the torches threw strange shadows in the corridors that were never there in the day. Obviously, she thought to herself furiously, I'm going to get lost and then where will I be? She rounded yet another corner and to her horror, saw figures approaching. The snide voice of Malfoy had her glued to the spot with fear, until she heard who was with him. And then suddenly it was not fear that rendered her immobile, it was fury.

* * * * * *

"No, I'm sorry, no, thank you, right, OK, that's lovely, bye. Bloody hell," Ginny had finally shut her bedroom door to Harry for the third time that evening. She suspected it was something to do with the large amounts of Firewhiskey he and Ron had consumed but Harry was showing uncharacteristic persistence in asking her to a stupid prefect party at the end of September.

"But I'm not a prefect,"

"I am and I want you to go with me,"

She sighed, leaning back against the wall. Harry had been acting really irritatingly around her lately, despite her making it quite clear she was not interested. What had she ever seen in him? He had followed her round like a lovesick idiot, which he was, when she liked a little fire, determination and maturity in a guy. Her thoughts wondered unbidden back to the day before the summer holidays, to someone... A banging on the door drew her back, and she opened it to reveal Harry stood there once more. This time she didn't even give him a chance to speak, but slammed the door shut with all her might. She detected Ron's clumsy matching in all of this, and she resented it.

The next day, they were all piling on to the train, slightly late and very flustered. Hermione's foul tempered cat had already destroyed two travel cages in its determination to eat Hedwig and the Weasley family, plus Harry and Hermione were tired and stressed. Ginny heaved her heavy trunk aboard the train, before following the others down the corridors searching for a compartment to themselves. It was a long time before they managed it, as the train had already pulled out of the station and was steaming through the bright green fields. Ginny wedged herself into a corner seat, and gazed out of the window, ignoring Harry who had plonked himself next to her and was trying to engage her in a conversation.

She was frantic, so she sent desperate signals to Luna, who had just joined them to help her. Luna, taking the hint, leaned forward and whispered confidentially to Harry, "I hate to tell you this, but there is a bustarded bluecarp flying around your left ear and if you do not take swift evasive action it will delve in and consume your brains." Harry stood, shaking his head at her almost pityingly and moved over to join Ron, who was trying to fit three chocolate frogs into his mouth at the same time, much to Neville's fascination.

"Thanks," Ginny murmured to Luna.

"No problem," And with that, Luna turned her magazine back upside down and continued to read peaceably.

They were nearly at Hogwarts, the sky had turned dark and Ginny was tired of the inane chatter of her compartment. She stood up and made her way out, mumbling something about the toilet. As she slid the glass door shut, she breathed a sigh of relief... just to turn around and see Malfoy leering at her.

"Tiring of them already?" He tutted, "And term not even begun yet, imagine!"

"Want another hex Malfoy?" She said quietly, dangerously.

He laughed, but for all of his swagger she could see a flash of fear. She grinned and began to continue on her way, only to find his arm in front of her.

"Go get changed Weasley," He snarled "Wouldn't want to be late off the train, would you?"

"Leave it Draco," Came a new voice, "You're going to be late yourself in a minute."

Malfoy whirled around angrily, "Shut the fuck up Blaise, before I jinx you,"

Blaise walked forward, "Only saying," He shrugged. Ginny stared at him, at his blond hair, fringe swept to one side carelessly, and intelligent clear blue eyes. She had to tear her own eyes away, before she did something really stupid and embarrassing like stepping forwards and kissing those lips... Pull yourself together she thought angrily and pushed her way past Malfoy, back into her compartment.

She resumed her place at the window, though all she could see now was that face, that perfect face...