The sky was clear and cloudless on the day Draco Malfoy entered Flourish and Botts to get his textbooks for his second year at Hogwarts. But things were quite the opposite inside. The little shop was crammed with a diversity of people, desperately trying to catch a glimpse of Gilderoy Lockhart, five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award. Draco, leaning against the banister on the second floor, looked down upon all the silly women and rolled his eyes exasperatedly.
He concluded that the only way he was going to get his books was to wait for his father to come in and shoo the crowd away, so he just stood there and stared at the sea of grown-ups beneath him. He suddenly caught a glimpse of a girl with fiery red hair. He leaned closer to the edge of the banister to get a clearer view of the girl. If it wasn't for her vibrant hair, he didn't think he would catch her in the crowd. She was just a few inches shorter than he was, and she was wearing color-faded clothes. The girl suddenly whipped her head in his direction and her clear green eyes stared into his. Shocked and embarrassed at being caught staring, Draco quickly pretended he was brushing away specks of dust from his dark suit and turned his back to prevent anyone from seeing his cheeks, as they turn a shade brighter than the girl's hair.
He cleared his throat, and looked towards Gilderoy Lockhart who was now taking pictures with none other than Harry Potter. Draco wanted to make a remark saying he would look better in a picture than Harry, but his mind kept wandering to the girl with sharp green eyes. He felt as though those eyes could have pierced right through him. Draco shook his head, regained himself and strode slowly down the stairs.
Just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, he accidently bumped into Harry. "Watch it Potter, I don't want your filth to smear on my suit," he growled.
"Leave. Him. Alone," a threatening voice suddenly said from his right side. Draco followed the voice and found himself staring at the red-haired girl he had seen before. Something inside of him flipped at the sight of her standing right beside him. So close. His mind started to fill with anguish thoughts.
Exactly how does this girl know Potter? Oh wait, everybody, of course. Pfft. Well why is she defending him as if she's-
"Your new girlfriend, Potter?" were the words that slipped out of his mouth before he could even form them in his mind. If Harry had paid enough attention, he would notice that Draco had a quiver in his voice as he said it. Draco wanted to slap his forehead, but he remained calm and waited for the result. He was beginning to get confused on why he even cared to know at all.
"Mind your own beeswax, you neat-freak," said the girl with red hair as her cheeks turned crimson red. Draco thought she looked like an adorable little ball of fury.
"Neat-fre-," he began, but was abruptly cut off by Harry.
"Ignore him Ginny, he's not even worth a troll's time," Harry said.
Ginny, was the only word that registered in Draco's mind. But soon after that he suddenly felt confused by his feelings. Before he could figure it out, Ron suddenly appeared beside Ginny out of nowhere, with Hermione and her bushy hair right behind him.
"Come on Ginny, mom told us to hang out at Florean Fortescue's and get some ice-cream while she gets the textbooks autographed," Draco saw the words form on Ron's lips. He was getting more and more confused. Mom? So this Ginny girl is a Weasley? He thought in disgust. It became clearer to him now, the faded material of her clothing, her bright red hair flowing on her shoulders. Even Crabbe and Goyle could see she's a Weasley, and that was saying something.
"Starting school this year, huh? Well hope you end up in Slytherin!" Draco suddenly said. I really need to start thinking before I just let words slip my mouth, he thought, as he mentally punches his own stomach.
"And hang out with all of you stuck-up kids? Thanks, but I think I'll pass," Ginny replied, "Let's go Ron."
As she walked away from him, Draco suddenly grabbed her wrist and her green eyes slipped into his again. He felt as though he wanted that moment to stay a bit longer. But she suddenly twisted her wrist, and was freed from his grasp. "Don't ever touch me again neat-freak, or you'll lose a toe before you get to figure out what to do with them tomorrow morning. And I don't want your cleanliness to creep up on me," she growled. He only saw a huge mass of bushy brown hair before he felt a sharp slap on his cheeks and blacked out.