A/N: This story is 100 Brimstone... none of that other business- this was going to be a one shot... but you know how it is when your mind gets going .
The bait
Chapter 1
Ginny paced back and forth as she looked at the clock, her detention was supposed to have started twelve minutes ago. Severus Snape really knew how to vex Gryffindor students beyond all reckoning. If she had been one minute late, Severus would have given her another hour of detention. Ginny heaved a sigh and slumped down onto the cold stone floor, outside the headmaster's office. She didn't even think to grab her book bag, she was sure that she wouldn't have time for reading… and she didn't want Snape or the Carrows digging through her stuff. Now if Severus had his way, he'd keep her from finishing her potions essay, transfiguration assignment, and the Quidditch game. She fumed and rolled her eyes up toward the ceiling. "It's a good thing the game is tomorrow…" Ginny thought with relief, though she knew that she'd miss practice today, since her detention hadn't even started, and practice was supposed to be in 15 minutes. "Wonderful… I'm captain and I can't even show up to my own practice… I'm sure he planned it this way on purpose!" By the time he gets here, practice would likely be over. "If it's not, it will be by the time I finish my blasted detention." Ginny sulked. She was so absorbed in her mood, that she didn't hear footsteps echoing of the walls as the climbed up the spiral staircase. They had crossed the landing from the stairs to the doorway where Ginny was huddled on the floor, her chin on her knees. The figure bent down over Ginny "Well… it looks like you are the one who got detention, Weselette!"
"Ginevra Weasley… What a pleasant surprise!" Zabini smirked at her, his eyes gleamed as if he knew something that was funny and he wasn't going to share it. He outstretched his hand offered it to her. Ginny jerked her head up at him; her eyes met his and searched his for answers. She looked confused and uneasy. "What are you doing up here?" she said as she pulled herself to her feet and dusted off her uniform. "Well… It was me or the carrows; I offered to be the one to give your detention today!" He sounded cheery. It was like he expected her to be thankful that he was giving her detention. "Since when did students… or Head-boy give out detention?" She said with so much distain, that she regretted having asked. Zabini's face went sour and he looked like someone else. He looked ten years old, and he looked like he had seen too much. Or perhaps it wasn't that he had seen, but felt. There was anger in his eyes and there was disgust. "Since Albus Dumbledore died… since Sycamore died… since Severus Snape became Headmaster of Hogwarts... since, so much has changed Ginny!!" With that, Zabini muttered something at the door and walked into the headmaster's office. Ginny followed him into the office. Without turning around Zabini flicked his wrist and sent the doors flying shut and locked themselves. "What we have here Weselette… is a student with a taste for trouble. While Snape has let this go as of late… his patience is running thin. He had intended to send the Carrows after you, to teach the D.A. a lesson… but decided against it. Do you know why…" He let his voice die out as he turned to face her. He had a small smirk playing at the side of his lips. 'It looks like Draco is still at Hogwarts…' She chuckled to herself. "Do you find this funny? Gin… we're talking about you breaking not only school rules… but new laws passed by the Ministry… is this a laughing matter to you?" Ginny sighed and tried to shake the thoughts from her mind. Shaking her head, she looked at Blaise, "No… it's not …" She apologized and swallowed. 'He's kind of scary like this… I've never seen someone so young look so composed, so mature.' She thought as she began looking around Snape's office. His office was filled with the same dark scary artifacts that he kept in his office in the dungeons; the only difference is that they were caught in the sunlight, which meant that you could see them much better. Making them appear a little less scary and a lot more grotesque.
"Well… we can't keep letting these escapades happen… someone like you need's to be an example to the D.A. and the rest of the school… So... what are we going to do with you, Weselette?" Zabini's addressed her as one would address an old friend. She sighed and looked at him with a sad smile. "What one must do to those who stubbornly resist the strict administration at school… or even the Ministry!" She placed her hands on her hips and bit her lip. "It doesn't matter… it never will, even if the rest of the D.A. gives up and complies… I won't, and I'm not the only one… there will always be a resistance here, those who are loyal to Dumbledore…" He was fast, but she was faster. She had been reaching for her wand since she put her hands on her hips. Green sparks hit yellow as the two spells collided with each other, and exploded. "Now… this is no way to take your punishment…" Blaise chuckled with amusement. She always had been stubborn and tempermental. "Diffindo!" She screamed as she raised her right hand from her left shoulder, and brought it down to rest at her side on the right. Zabini blocked just in time to save his left arm. He mulled over the deep cut on his arm, and the tare of his robe's sleeve. Ginny took the few seconds he found his arm to be more important then her, to send another spell flying. "Expelliarmus!" She breathed and watched in disappointment as Zabini dodged the spell completely, he dropped to the floor and rolled, bringing himself up near one of Severus's bookshelves. 'Perfect!' Ginny thought as she flung her next spell at Blaise. "Here's one for the record…" She was caught of guard as Zabini sent a curse flying at her. She flew backwards landing on one of the chairs in front of Snape's desk and then fell to the floor as it broke and landed on her back, searing pain coursed through her body.
"Now… perhaps you'll keep your nose out of business it doesn't belong in?!" Blaise's voice was inquisitive and reassuring. He walked over to her and looked down at her. "Unelmos Despair" He muttered and put his wand away before helping her up. "Let's get you to the infirmary… You're a mess…Besides; I wouldn't want to explain to Snape what happened to one of the students under his gracious protection…" His words were light and confident; 'as if Snape would care…' he noted before staggering backwards as he helped Ginny up. He felt light headed and in disarray, he wasn't sure but he guessed that it had something to do with the blood that was now trickling down his arm. Blaise grabbed her by the left arm and briskly walked out of the Headmasters office and down to the infirmary. 'Gracious protection? He hardly even bats an eye when the Carrows torture any of the students here. McGonagall can't do anything without turning herself into a target, which would leave the Order in complete disarray if the ministry locked her up…not to mention the fact that there'd be one less person who actually worked hard to protect the students.' Ginny bit her lower lip, somehow she had to talk to McGonagall, things were getting out of hand… and if she knew any better, Minerva was going to scold her for her behavior. "Look… I'm fine; I don't need to go to the infirmary." Gin attempted to pull her arm free from his grasp, but that only caused him to tighten his hold on her. Blaise's dull and nearly non-existent nails dug into her arm, causing her to bleed. "Don't fight it, Weselette… shall we duel again? Trust me, this time I won't be so slow… nor will I be sympathetic." He glared at her so intently, she was afraid that he might backhand her. "Um… The infirmary… seems like a good…idea!" Ginny said, a bit confused; it wasn't what she wanted to say, the words just came out… as if she were a puppet.
Zabini opened the door to the infirmary and half-dragged Ginny over to one of the beds. She was making it as difficult as possible to get her to the infirmary since she had verbally agreed to it. Zabini was losing patience with her, and that wasn't all… if she didn't start cooperating with him, he might resort to drastic measures again. The idea was slightly appealing, he thought; as he threw her down onto one of the beds. "Sit here, and don't move… I'll be right back with Pomfrye!" Ginn didn't protest. She didn't even make an attempt to move, she wasn't sure why she stayed put. But she knew she didn't want to find out what Zabini would do, if she resisted. 'What's going on… I don't want to stay… I don't even want to be here!' Gin breathed heavily, as if she was suffocating. 'I need to get out of here… he's probably got some poison… what if he imperio's Pomfry to kill me or something?' Those thoughts gave Gin the strength to get up, but as she got up she felt her strength and energy drain out of her like a flood. She pressed on and took a step away from the bed, fell back and passed out.
