Disclaimer: I do not own anything even remotely Harry Potter related. All I own is this plot, any OCs of mine, and my dignity.

A/N: So, I'm having my hand at another Harry Potter fanfic. Haven't done this in a while; might be a bit rusty. Please give me feedback. I need it to continue on, no joke.

BETRAYAL OF THE HEART
Prologue

Too Many Nights Spent Alone

Ginevra Weasley wasn't a girl who succumbed easily to her "weakest" emotions. She was strong. She didn't cry much. She made sure she didn't leave herself in vulnerable positions. She knew how to defend herself if there would be any trouble. But there was one trouble she knew not how to defend herself against. One trouble that not even attending Hogwarts for almost five years could prepare her for.

She wasn't in any immediate danger, but she wasn't in a safe position either. Now she was more vulnerable than when she had fallen victim to Tom Riddle's diary. And the worst part was, it wasn't even her fault.

It was his. Him, with his cool, cloudy silver eyes that held too many emotions in them; his silky, soft light blond hair that she so desperately wanted to run her hands through; and his snide, charming and confident demeanor which more attracted her than repulsed her. It was all him.

For almost five years, he had been nothing more than a nuisance to her. Not directly of course, but the stories she'd heard about him – the things she'd witnessed. He was a bother, a bully…scum. But now…? Now he was turning the tables. Now he was throwing everything she knew about him out the window. He was like a new person entirely.

It was all his fault.

"…And I don't get those girls! I mean, I really couldn't care less about half the things they have to say!" Hermione exclaimed, harping once more about Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil and their gossiping antics. "You'd think they'd be more concerned about their less than average marks in Transfiguration, but no! There they are and all they're talking about is how Draco Malfoy is the most sought after wizard in Hogwarts these days! It's absolutely –"

Up until that point, Ginny had only truly been listening halfheartedly to what Hermione was saying. She was used to Hermione's rage over the gossiping girls in their school, and thus had learned to partially tune out whenever Hermione starting ranting again. But it wasn't often that Hermione actually delved into what the girls had been talking about; even if she did listen to what they said, she never repeated it for fear that she too might get caught up in the latest gossip. Hearing another name mentioned had caught Ginny's interest and she raised a scarlet eyebrow at Hermione.

"Draco Malfoy's most sought after?" Ginny repeated, not really being able to believe what she was hearing. Malfoy was a straight prick if nothing else. Cocky and self-absorbed, he only did "good" for his own benefit. Still, that didn't seem to prevent a good portion of the student body from being hopelessly attracted to him. Surprisingly enough, Malfoy didn't seem interested. Ginny figured it was because he thought he was too good for anybody.

Hermione stopped talking abruptly and looked a little ruffled; she hadn't expected Ginny to interrupt her then, and for such an insignificant part of her spiel as well. She frowned slightly and leaned against a porcelain sink of the Gryffindor girls' restroom. "Yes, that's…well, that's what I heard them say," Hermione admitted, nodding. "But then again, it might just be a rumor. You know gossip – you can't trust half of what they're saying…"

But Ginny wasn't paying attention to what Hermione was saying now either. She was trying to understand how what Lavender and Parvati had said could be true in the slightest. "But why would anybody want to be with Malfoy?" Ginny asked, scrunching up her nose in distaste. What could they possibly see in that prick?

Hermione blinked at Ginny before a small blush rose on her pink cheeks. "Well…Gin," she coughed, averting her eyes from Ginny, "you have to admit…he's quite attractive." Hermione looked down at the floor sheepishly, wishing she hadn't said that.

Ginny's jaw dropped in surprise (she certainly hadn't expected Hermione to say such a thing), but then a mischievous grin crossed her lips. "Hermione, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you liked Draco Malfoy."

"I do not!" Hermione insisted quickly, her blush growing deeper. "It's just that…ask any girl in this school that question and they'd say the same thing!" Hermione snapped, still embarrassed. "Anyways, that's about the only reason I can imagine anyone wanting to be with him. He is an annoying little ferret after all."

"Whatever you say, Hermione. It's okay though; I won't tell anybody that you're madly in love with Draco Malfoy," Ginny grinned, chuckling as Hermione blushed yet again.

"But I'm not -!"

"We should get back to the party now, huh? I'm sure the other girls are wondering why it's taking so long for us to 'powder our noses'." Ginny walked back into the Gryffindor Common Room with a rather flushed looking Hermione in tow.

And even after Hermione explained it to her, Ginny still couldn't fathom why anybody would be interested in Draco Malfoy. But she shrugged it off then, adding it to the list of things she figured she'd never understand. Little did she know that sooner than later, she'd come to understand that more than anything.