Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters – they belong to JKR – the most talented writer known not only to wizard-kind but also to muggles…
It was a late summer's day. Ginny was at the Burrow, playing Quidditch with Harry and Ron. She was starting her 5th year, Ron and Harry's 6th
She and Harry were playing against Ron and Hermione. Harry and Ginny were a great team. She couldn't help but gasp whenever she looked into Harry's green eyes. She thought: "Harry, I will never stop loving you!"…How very wrong she was…
The Hogwarts train moved slowly from mist into another stretch of sunlight. Ron was glued to Lavender's lips, Neville was eating chocolate frogs, Hermione was reading a new Transfiguration book, Luna was reading the Quibbler upside-down, Harry and Ginny were talking. Harry noticed, that Ginny had not only grown in height during the summer holidays, but also curves at the right places. Her hair was long, red and shiny. Her skin was pale, but healthy-looking, she didn't have that many freckles, her lips were a delicate shade of pink. She was wearing all white since they had not yet changed into their uniforms.
Harry swallowed: "So, Gin, what classes are you taking? This is owl-year, right?"
"Yes, I just know I'll do fine in Charms, potion and arithmancy. Defence against the dark arts should be also ok, since you taught it last year, but Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures…" Ginny shook her head.
"I know you can do this, if Ron passed Herbology, you will do it too!" Harry grinned. Ron's ears went red and he chucked a chocolate frog at Harry's Head. "You're evil. I'm a prefect, I can dock you points." Ron said wagging his finger. Lavender shot him a glowing look: "Yes, Ron, you are so influential!" she said her cheeks glowing.
"Now I'm really scared." Harry said sarcarstically while Ginny laughed. Harry couldn't help but notice how beautiful her laugh was.
At that moment, Harry's musings were interrupted by a snide voice: "Potter, how does it feel being second-best to Weasley?" Malfoy was leaning in the doorframe, leering. Crabbe and Goyle were positioned right next to him, guffawing stupidly. "Tell me Malfoy, how does it feel, having earned the prefect's badge, not on talent but because of your father?" Harry said evenly. Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Luna laughed. Neville let out a weak grin.
"You know, Potter, at least, I have a prefect's status and can dock points and put you in detention. So watch your step." Draco sneered. "I would watch YOUR step. Ron and me are also prefects." Hermione said testily. "Just think of it, Granger, who would be more likely to be believed, a Mudblood or someone like ME?" Draco said while Crabbe and Goyle grunted. "I would rather believe Hermione!" Ginny said angrily. She stood up and eyed Malfoy angrily. She couldn't help but notice that he had grown very handsome. His blonde hair was hanging into his face and his eyes were as blue and icy as ever.
Draco glared at Ginny: "Any problem, Weaslette with..." he stopped. He noticed her beautiful hair, her pretty face, her nice body and the nice clothes she was wearing. Words failed him. "Just shut up." he snarled and left the carriage, following Crabbe and Goyle to follow him.
"Let's also get some fresh air, Won-won." Lavender said pulling Ron out of the compartment who made an excusing face. Hermione snorted and Harry rolled his eyes.
"What was that about?" Harry asked surprised. Ginny shrugged. "That woman is getting on my nerves, honestly. Why does Ron have such a bloody taste in women?" she asked and looked at Hermione pointedly who turned a deep red and returned haughtily to her book. "I mean, there are so many better girls around." Harry said, cottoning on. Luna shrugged. "There may come a time, when Ron finds out who his true love is." she said mysteriously. Ginny snorted. "Don't we all wish?" she asked, looking longingly at Harry. Harry sighed: "I guess, that's what everyone wants to know." They sat in silence. "Well, I guess, I'll get changed then." Ginny said, blushing as Harry pat her hand. "Be back soon." he smiled at her and blushed himself. When she exited the carriage, Ginny took a deep breath. Why did Malfoy have to be so handsome?
Draco was going back to his compartment, thinking. Why had that Weasley-girl affected him so much? And why couldn't he stop thinking about her? When he arrived, Pansy greated him as usual, by jumping up and wrapping her arms around Draco. "I missed you Drakie-poo." she screeched. Draco sighed annoyed. How could he get rid of that woman? "Uh, getting changed." he mumbled and took his clothes. "I'll be waiting here for you." Pansy twittered. "That's great. Uh, see you later, then, Pansy." he said and was delighted to be away from that woman.
Ginny made her way through the crowd and noticed the every boy seemed to be staring at her with wide eyes. Especially her white skirt and shirt seemed to be very interesting against the mass of black. Ginny sighed. Soon she would be wearing the school uniform – looking like everyone else.
She stopped abruptly. Ron and Lavender were standing right in front of her, glueing their lips together and making kissing noises. Ginny pulled a face. "Ron you hypocrite! Go and find a room. You're embarrassing yourselves." Ginny said loudly. Some bystanders nearby laughed. Ron and Lavender didn't seem to notice but continued their snogging, their hands everywhere. "Ron, you are an embarrassing git!" Ginny spat. Draco saw her long red, shiny hair, flowing down her back. Her cheeks were redded in anger and it contrasted to her white shirt and skirt. Draco thought he had never seen anything so perfect. Ron snorted: "Oh yes, Ginny, because YOU are so innocent." "I'm not swallowing someone's tongue, what I do, is called kissing." Ginny said smoothly. Ron stopped abruptly. "WHAT?" "Well, Ron, it's a free country, I can have my fun as well." Ginny snorted. "No, you can't! You are too… young." Ron said feebly, making Ginny laugh evilly. "Oh, yes, I can." Ginny spat. "No, you can't!" Ron retorted angrily. "Yes, she can, Weasley, now shut your trap!" Malfoy was towering over Ron. Ginny felt as if her entire blood was in her cheeks now. She avoided looking at Malfoy. "Malfoy…" Ron stuttered but was cut off by Lavender's lips. Ginny sighed and followed Malfoy into the changing room. What? No, she was not following him…
But here he was, waiting for her.
"Disgusting, isn't it?" he asked with a smirk. "Yes, it is indeed." Ginny smiled a bit herself. "Thank you for coming to my aid. Although I don't really need it. Ron is my brother and I know him inside out." Ginny said. "Don't get used to it, Weasley, anyway." Draco said and disappeared in a cubicle to change. Ginny got into the next one and changed. She went outside to fix her hair in front of the mirror. From behind, she saw Draco emerging, tousle-haired and gorgeous. She swallowed. "Your hair looks fine, Weasley, you don't need to pamper." Draco said and shoved her aside in order to look into the mirror himself. Ginny blushed and departed. Why had Malfoy stuck up for her?
No, Ginny, your hair doesn't looks fine, it looks beautiful. Malfoy sighed. He could never win her over. she was a Gryffindor. And a blood traitor. And she was all over Potter. Who would want that? Draco wrinkled his nose in disgust. Surely not me, he found himself saying. When he returned to the compartment he had forgotten about Pansy who jumped up when Malfoy arrived. He groaned. "I've missed you, Draco – these two are just boring!" she said evilly, eyeing Crabbe and Goyle with disgust. "Where is Blaise then?" Draco asked. "Well, I don't know that, Draco, why should I?" Pansy said bewildered. "He went out at the same time with me, didn't he?" Draco breathed. "Yes, of course, but how should I know where he'd gone to?" Pansy spat, showing her anger. "I guess, I will have to look for him." Draco said and stepped out, again having found out an excuse not to talk to Pansy.
Blaise and Ginny were both walking down the corridor, Ginny thinking about Draco and Harry; Blaise thinking about a new hairstyle he had seen on a muggle-footballplayer who he admired and was called David Beckham. 'I wonder where he got that hairstyle. It looks beautiful.' Blaise thought – and – collided with Ginny. Her bag fell down and split open. "Reparo" Blaise muttered. Ginny looked at him. "Thank you." she said surprised. Blaise had never taunted her for some reason – only the golden trio. "Oh, it's you!" he said disgustedly, throwing her the bag. "Blaise, there you are!" Draco called out, ignoring Ginny completely. Blaise and Ginny got up from the floor. "She crashed into me." Blaise said, rubbing his back. "It could also have been the other way round." Ginny stated. But the two boys ignored her.
"Pansy is getting desperate, Blaise, you should come and save me." Draco said and the two boys got up to leave. Ginny was feeling a bit disappointed. 'Why didn't he talk to me again?' she wondered. 'But wait, what am I thinking? I should be glad that Harry is waiting for me!' she thought and went to her carriage, though not entirely convinced.
When Blaise and Draco got back to their carriage, they saw Pansy reading a magazine. "Where did you get that?" Draco asked. "Angelina from Gryffindor was reading it and wanted to throw it away. And since I was bored – and didn't have anyone to talk to since the both of you were gone, I thought I would read it." Pansy said happily. "What? You pick something up from the floor?" Blaise said disgustedly. "Wait, who had to pick himself up from the floor just now?" Draco smirked. "Oh shut up, Malfoy." Blaise said, punching Malfoy playfully in the arm. He sat down next to Pansy and peered into her magazine. It was nothing interesting for him. It was about clothes, make-up, love, friends and stuff that didn't interest him. Pansy glared at him and turned the page. The next one was about make-up: "How to be the star of a party – in only 10 minutes." Blaise read from the page. Draco laughed. "You would need more than 10 minutes, Pansy." Pansy glared at him while Draco and Blaise laughed. "Now, Draco, listen, first step, wash your face to remove all excess oil" Blaise chuckled and peered down again to read the instructions. But instead his glance fell onto the model who had her face done. He gasped. Now that was not possible. It couldn't be – the girl with whom he had just collided.
Quickly he took the magazine from Pansy who let out a cry of despair. "It's not possible!" Blaise said quietly. Draco and Pansy looked at each other quizzically. "What's gotten into you, Blaise?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow. "The model – look for yourself – that's - Weaslette…" Blaise said, throwing the magazine to Draco.
Ron and Lavender were holding hands gazing dreamily into each other's eyes, Luna was talking to Neville about her holidays, Harry and Hermione were discussing a new potion and Ginny was left alone to think about her current photo shoot.
"Do you often do shoots, Ginevra?" the make-up stylist asked her. "No, I don't have time to during school, but usually during the holidays, I do small things, like shoots for this magazine or for the clothing company "WWW" I've also been on the catwalk once." she told her. "Nice. You've got a perfect face, Ginevra. Well, you are finished then. Let's take the pictures, then." the stylist said. The photographer who took the pictures didn't only pay her the fee but also handed her some of the pictures. Ginny kept those pictures in a box, she never showed anybody. 'I wonder how many people know – maybe they don't recognize me at all.' Ginny wondered.
"That's… Weasley?" Draco asked, his eyes widening. It was true. It was her face, her beautiful face, even more beautiful – and Draco was stunned. He didn't know that Weasley modelled. "Did you know that, Pansy?" Draco asked her. "No, I didn't. Why do you even care? She is a blood traitor!" Pansy spat angrily, snatched the magazine from Draco and continued reading. Draco and Blaise, however, looked at each other and knew instantly what the other was thinking – namely that it did matter…