Ginny was sitting in the Gryffindor common room when a giggling sixth year popped her head in. she had looked at Ginny, muttered something about traitor, and man stealer, and then stomped her way up to the dormitories. Ginny wondered what she was talking about, but Harry entered the room and distracter her thoughts.
"Are you ok Ginny?" he asked, and sat down on the couch next to her.
"Uh, yeah…"she said in a confused voice. "Why do you ask? Did something happen?" Harry turned to face her completely and said,
"So you haven't heard. Hermione thought you wouldn't have, but Ron was sure you would." Ginny was starting to get angry. Obviously Harry didn't want to be the one to tell her the news. She guessed it was something social, and probably had to do with a boy. Oh great! Just what I need right now! More complications!
Ginny gave Harry the puppy dog face, and eventually, Harry gave in, took a huge gulp of air, and said in one breath,
"Draco fell asleep in Potions class, and pronounced his undeniable love for you in front of the whole class, and Snape confirmed that it was true, and about the whole school knows, and Draco is really embarrassed, and has been avoiding you!" Harry finished and gasped for air. The pair looked like they were about to pass out, Ginny from shock, Harry from lack of oxygen.
"Brilliant!" Ginny muttered sarcastically as she turned to face the portrait hole. Practically everyone coming in from the corridors gave Ginny a dirty glare, like Malfoy liking her was her fault, or a giggle, halfway "I'm so sorry, but it's funny", and halfway, "Ha ha, sucker!!!" Ginny couldn't distinguish the two, and she didn't want to either.
Harry was about to leave Ginny, who looked as pale as in the Chamber of Secrets, and who hadn't spoken a word yet since he broke the news, when Hermione skidded out of the door, and stood on the platform before the stairs.
She caught Harry's eye, and since Ginny had her back turned to her, mouthed the words, "did you tell her?" very slowly to Harry, so Harry could understand her. Harry nodded solemnly, and discretely put his thumb pointed downwards. Harry vigorously nodded, and Hermione carefully took the steps down towards the common room, books under her arm, just in case she had a little time to study, in between consoling Ginny.
Ginny, who had been oblivious to their whole conversation, not that she really cared either though, heard someone coming down the stairs, and was relieved to see it was Hermione. The last person in the world she wanted to see was her brother Ron, who would only make fun of her, and probably lock her in a closet so Draco wouldn't be able to see her. Harry promptly got up, knowing that it would be a "girl talk", and that he would not want to be present. He ran up the stairs, and bumped face to face with Ron. Ron made a start down the stairs, but Harry quickly pulled him back with one swift jerk on the shoulder.
"Not now Ron", he said, and whispered "can't you see their having a girl talk?" Ron looked over, and sure enough, Hermione and Ginny were whispering to each other, giggling once in a while. Glad that he didn't go over, Ron decided to settle the problem his way, another time.
Ginny was aroused from her sleep by Hermione, already dressed for the night.
"Come on Ginny. You'd better get to bed now. I imagine you'll have a long day with…well … you know." Ginny stumbled off of the couch, and made her way to the dormitories. She had had enough of thinking, and preferred a dreamless sleep this particular night.
Ginny was awoken in the morning by a small brown item being shoved forcefully into her mouth. Ginny opened her eves as the chocolate melted in her mouth. Anyone who knew Ginny knew that on days like this, she would not get out of bed without a piece of chocolate being shoved in her mouth. Ginny took the shower as soon as it was open, and then did her hair and makeup. As Ginny put on her robes she thought about what the day would be like. Guessing that she probably would be the victim of a lot of Gossip, she wanted to look her best.
She stepped out of the bathroom, and decided she was ready to face the Great Hall. Ginny had already explained to her roommates about the situation, and informed them that she had nothing to do with Draco.
"I don't bloody like him, so you might as well just keep your mouths shut!" she exclaimed when one of the girls brought it up.
Well, I guess I'll have to go down sometime, unless I want to pass out. She made her way down the corridors, and tried to avoid any eye contact with the people around her. As she neared the Great Hall, she could tell that the faces on her fellow Gryffindors, and their arch enemy's the Slytherins, would not be a pretty one. Ginny took a deep breath and commander her body to move into the Great Hall. Ginny stared into the Great Hall, mortified at the sight before her. As far as Ginny could tell, every eye I the Great Hall was looking at her. Pulling herself together, she made her way towards the Gryffindor table.
Ginny found an open spot next to her friends, and sat down. She could tell everyone knew about what Draco had said, they just weren't leading on. Ginny filled her plate, and ate as quickly as she could, without looking like a pig. Hermione was sitting across the table and to her left attempted to catch Ginny's eye. Once she looked over, Hermione winked, and gave Ginny a thumbs up sign. Ginny sighed and returned the signal. She had honestly hopped that Hermione had forgotten about the plan. Ginny quickly tried to remember the steps they had laid out the other night.
Avoid Draco at all costs, even if that means taking the long route to classes, and even purposely getting detention.
Get friends to spread the word around that she did not return the feelings Draco had expressed for her
If Draco happened to make a move on her, slap him in the face for dramatic affect
Ginny wasn't particularly excited about slapping Draco, but Hermione said it had to be
done. Ginny promised herself that she would only hit him if he seriously hit on her, and didn't leave her alone. Everyone knew Ginny didn't take crap from guys.
Ginny left the Great hall, and made her way down to charms class. She used the route that Hermione had carefully laid out for her, taking her past rooms she was sure Slytherins would not be hanging out by. She was one hallway away from her classroom, when she spotted a shiny silver-blond head.
"Oh crap!" she thought, as she realized it was Draco. Ginny composed herself, took deep breaths, and went to the opposite side of Draco, and his myriad of followers. Just as she was about to pass him, he sidestepped over to her, and rested his side and elbow against the wall.
"Hey there, beautiful!" Draco said smoothly as he gazed into her eyes, and checked her out. Ginny almost gagged.
"What do you want, ferret!?" she snapped, and tried to get passed him.
"You." He said, and inched his face closer to hers.
"Dream on, Draco!" Ginny exclaimed. She pushed her hand into his face, and smashed against the stone wall. Ginny ran off, while Malfoy groaned in pain.
"Don't forget Weasley," shouted Draco after her. "You've just made the top of my to-do list!"
Ginny's face flushed as she entered the Charms classroom, and sat down in her seat. So she, Ginny Weasley, was at the top of Draco's to-do list.
"Merlin, help me!" she exclaimed, halfway expecting the wizard to fall from the sky. But instead, she got a whopping homework assignment from Professor Flitwick.
"Bloody Hell" she muttered as she read through the assignment. Flitwick had decided that the 6th years needed to be paired with the 7th years for a big research paper. Professor Flitwick said he would be announcing the pairs the next day. A buzz erupted from the class.
"Half my friends are in the 7th year," thought Ginny. "I should be fine." At dinner, most of the 6th years were stressing over getting a good partner for the assignment. Ginny, on the other hand was thinking of what subject she would like to do her paper on.
"Maybe I'll do it on a charm that Harry taught us in the DA!" she thought excitedly.
The next day came faster than any day had. Ginny really wanted her almost brother Harry, or her brother's friend Dean, and his friend Seamus. Ginny liked all of these boys. But Ron would be a disaster Ginny was the second one into class. Colin Creevey was the first. Ginny waited about 5 minutes, and by then, most of the class was in their seats. Professor Flitwick was the last one in the classroom.
"The list of partners is ….." Ginny listened for her name. She almost passed out when she did.
"Ginny, and Ron," Professor Flitwick called over the voices of excited students. Ginny didn't look at anyone in the room. She looked straight ahead and tried to release her anger without breaking anything, or making a high pitched scream. This involved a crumpled piece of parchment, a broken quill, and a dent in her desk.
The minute class was over, Ginny went to the front of the classroom to speak with Professor Flitwick.
"Professor," Ginny started. "I cannot work with my brother Ron!"
"Yes, yes, I knew you would say that. Let us see… hmmmm… ah yes, I can switch you if you would like."
"That would be fantastic Professor! Anyone would be better than Ron." "Alright" he said. "Your new partner will be..." Harry, Dean or Seamus! Ginny thought desperately to herself.
"Your new partner will be Draco, and your brother Ron will be paired with Colin Creevey." Ginny tried not to throw something. She knew she had just made her situation ten times worse. Well that's just peachy!. Not to mention he couldn't keep his hands off of me a day ago! This… THIS is my punishment for being sexy!?!?! Life sucks