Seeing Red

By parchmentqueen

Pilot Chapter 1

Summer had drawn on far too long. The Burrow was nothing short of chaotic having to put up with her older brother Bill and his new fiancé, Fleur. Ginny Weasley hurriedly pulled her trunk along the tracks to board the Hogwarts Express, her new Pygmy Puff she dubbed Arnold tucked away in her robe pocket. "Mum, of course I'll write daily." Ginny rolled her eyes as her portly mother rushed after her.

"Ginevra, don't roll your eyes at me," Molly Weasley grunted as Ginny spun around to face her mother. Molly leaned in to her only daughter and pecked her on her freckled cheek. "You know I worry."

Ginny sighed as she retuned her mother's peck and squeezed her mother tightly." Mum, I promise. I'll write. Love you." Molly released her from the embrace and took a step back, smoothing a hand over her daughter's newly tailored robes. Ginny grasped her mother's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze before releasing and stepping onto the train. She watched as her parents tended to her older brother Ron. This was her cue to disappear and find her place on the train.

Ginny walked along the narrow hall of the train car to her usual compartment, stowing her belongings in the rack above. She quickly took a seat, settling herself into the leather before pulling from her pocket a frightened Arnold. "It's okay little fella." She soothed the pygmy puff, tracing patterns with her fingers into his fear. A moment later, a tall figure forced his way into the compartment, taking no notice of its occupant. Ginny sat silently as the intruder pulled up his sleeve momentarily before mumbling something with his wand out. Ginny cleared her throat and the figure whipped around, blonde her bouncing in place.

"Weasley, "he spat, a startled look on his face. What had she seen? Draco Malfoy eyed her suspiciously before turning to leave the compartment.

Confused by the encounter, Ginny shook her head and returned her attention to Arnold. Still, curiosity brimmed in the back of her mind. What was Draco Malfoy hiding?

Just then, Dean Thomas burst into the compartment occupying the seat next to her. He cozied up to her instantly. The two had been seeing each other since near end of the last school year. Ginny smiled and gently tucked Arnold back into her robes. She returned the affection, allowing her head to rest at his shoulder, her hand slipping into his. They spent the greater portion of the ride to Hogwarts nestled into each other's embrace.

Thank you all for taking a moment to read this pilot chapter. It has been years since I have attempted a decent story, so I fully expect criticism. This will be a Draco/Ginny story, but I decided to start out subtle with the Dean/Ginny opening scene. I'm excited to post the next piece which will be much longer and is already proving interesting to write. Let's see where Ginny's 5th year takes us!

Thanks,

parchmentqueen