A/N: I enjoy school-set D/G and B/G stories, so I've decided to set this little D/G/B dabbling in AU-ville back in Ginny's sixth year, ignoring books six and seven, and most of book five. Oh, and why not – let's modernize a bit as well. It's just a bit of delightful drabble, with a touch of underlying drama that can surface at some point in the future. Plenty of smut to come – should be fun!

The chapters will be of varying lengths, posted at varying times, since I have no real schedule at the moment and simply write when the mood strikes. I apologize for that in advance, I know it can be a pain. Hope you enjoy anyway!

Disclaimer: Don't own; don't sue.

Chapter 1: The Best Offense is a Good Defense

"Ginny, you have got to stop doing this," Hermione sighed as she met Ginny in the Hospital Wing.

The redhead did not look impressed by her friend's weary plea. This was the third time this year that the older girl had had to talk Ginny out of a punishment, and it was only October. "I said no. He didn't move his hand. That's cause for finger breakage," she insisted as they disembarked from the clinic, her tone nonchalantly steady but with an undercurrent of annoyance.

Ginny had returned for her sixth year looking basically how she'd looked in fifth year – same gingery copper hair, same freckles and wicked grin – though she had luckily filled out a bit from the scrawny petite thing she'd been last spring. She wasn't exactly a bombshell, still too skinny for her short frame, but she was getting there. Three more years, maybe, and everything would even out. In the mean-time, her burgeoning curves had her dealing with the steadily growing flirtation front. While she'd had boys hit on her every once in a while in previous years, this year Ginny wasn't taking any of it. She'd taken on a militant "no means no" policy, and intended to make that fact clear to anyone who didn't want to listen. Even if all they were doing was placing a hand on her shoulder, as MacDougal had been.

"I can't keep bailing you out, Gin, why can't you just – I don't know, step away?" Hermione's tone was more tired than exasperated, but still – "I just can't comprehend why you have to be so violent."

The freckled nose of the accused raised a bit higher. Violent? She wasn't violent, just… Well, alright, perhaps she was a bit violent. She didn't honor her friend with an answer, instead scowling slightly at the accusation as they merged into a main corridor.

Hermione glanced sideways at Ginny, becoming more edgy with the silence. Her slight wringing of her fingers gave it away before the brunette spoke. "Ginny-"

"What, Hermione?" Ginny interrupted snappishly, immediately feeling a little guilty about it, but not letting that guilt show.

The seventh-year looked less than pleased as she pursed her lips. Finally, she snapped back, "Madame Pomfrey told me to issue you a detention." Ginny's mouth opened in surprise, but Hermione continued, "I wasn't going to, seeing as the only professor offering to oversee miscellaneous detentions is Snape, but now that I see you're so obviously unrepentant-"

"Hermione-"

"-I suppose I have no choice," her so-called friend finished, with a tone of irked finality.

Ginny stopped moving, causing a third year to jerk out of his path to avoid a narrow collision with the redhead. "But-" She wasn't even sure what to say. "It was self defense!" She argued, her combative attitude beginning to slip more toward a plea.

"He didn't hit you, Ginny, you could've just moved away; you didn't have to break his thumb," Hermione emphasized the younger girl's offense dramatically, making it clear what she thought of that excuse as she propped her books against her hip and leveled a hard glare at Ginny.

Ginny broke eye contact, looking away almost sheepishly, and immediately cursed herself for backing down. She'd made herself a zero tolerance policy and she should be sticking to it. But detention?! She couldn't afford a detention every time some boy didn't listen the first time she told him something. If that were the case, any conversation with Ron would land her a week with Snape. "…Fine. I'll try to give more warning." She knew she should probably stop there, but the next few words slipped from her lips anyway, "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Hermione rolled her eyes in annoyance and continued walking briskly, forcing Ginny to jog to catch up. "No, Ginny, that's not what I wanted to hear. I want to hear you take responsibility for your actions and admit that perhaps – just perhaps – your solution isn't the be-all end-all."

Hermione's shoes clacked gently against the floors as Ginny's trainers padded alongside nearly silently, and Ginny said not a word. She bit her lip. She just couldn't do that. "…So when's this detention?" She was resigned to the punishment, no matter how much she hated it.