Chapter 1 – Shiver

The noise had stopped upstairs, Ginny noticed, as she crossed the common room and sat down by the fire. The girls' dorm had been engulfed in shouts, screams, and horrible accusations of the ugliest kind. Ah, Ginny thought, a typical day in the Gryffindor common room. Upon hearing the shrill cry of someone saying, "And then I saw you with him…he wouldn't want you in a thousand years!" Ginny finally stood, having half a mind to go up there and slap each of them in turn. "Such juveniles!" she growled to no one in particular.

"You've had it as well?" said Harry as he came from the hallway. He nodded toward the dorm. "I could hear them while I was remembering the password, and the Fat Lady's none to happy with the racket, I reckon." Harry stared at Ginny for a moment before leaning over, his face inches from hers. "Would you like to get out of here?"

Ginny blinked. "Alright."

Getting out of the portrait into the hall was easier than it had been when Ginny was eleven, though she did manage to stumble a bit tonight, falling right into Harry's arms as he turned to catch her, the Fat Lady whistling in approval. "Oh, shove it," Ginny scowled as they walked off.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked her as they walked down the enchanted staircase. While waiting for them to change so that they could get down to the main floor, Ginny saw Harry run a hand through hi untidy black hair, his emerald eyes hesitant as he stared at her. He put his hands in the pockets of his robes and smiled awkwardly at her.

"I'm fine," Ginny nodded, looking up at him.

He moved closer. "I wanted to ask you something…" he sounded nervous. "It's been on my mind for awhile…" he brushed some hair from her face and Ginny exhaled slowly, letting her eyes fall shut, lips parted in anticipation.

"Ask me," she whispered.

Harry took a deep breath. "Do you think I should ask Hermione out? I mean you'd know better than anyone if she fancies me."

The redhead's eyes shot open and she stepped back, looking hurt. "Oh," she said quietly, wiping her eyes so he didn't see the tears. "I don't know. I think she likes someone else."

"Oh." Harry's face fell. "Well, we ought to get back, right?" He fiddled with the clasps on his robes, his eyes at a downcast. "I think so. Hermione and Ron will be worried when you're not there." He muttered.

Ginny glared at him. Me? I'm not a child! Ginny could stay out as late as curfew permitted, she knew that. Without another word, she turned and walked back to the common room. How could I have been so stupid? Why did I want him to kiss me? I haven't liked Harry for ages. When they reached the Fat Lady, she smiled grimly. "They're still having a go at each other," she said curtly, informing Harry and Ginny as they stepped inside.

The fact was that the fight had now been brought out into the open and Ginny could see clearly whom it was between. Lavender Brown was in tears and being comforted by her friends as Hermione turned in time to see Harry, her face pink and her eyes fierce. "Where have you been?" she demanded.

"I…" Harry mumbled.

"He was with me, 'Mione," Ginny said. "We just needed to get away from…" she stopped and Hermione glanced at her.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that." Hermione apologized. "But Lavender seems to think that I'm…"

"Trying to steal my Won-Won is what you're doing!" Lavender shrieked.

Ron had chosen that time to come from the boys' dorm, stopping dead as he heard her voice. He craned his neck to see everyone staring at him, some giggling, others, like Hermione, scowling. "What's up?" he asked, casually, pretending he didn't know anything. His two best friends glanced at him.

"Will you calm her down?" Harry asked and pointed to the girl on the floor. "I'll take care of Hermione."

"Of course you will," said a snide voice, and Harry turned his head.

"What?" he looked confused.

"Oh, nothing." Ginny smiled sweetly, inside her temper flaring.

Harry merely shrugged and went over to comfort Hermione. She was trying to tell him what happened when Ron interrupted and the fighting stared all over again. "Maybe," she hissed, "if you kept her locked up then she wouldn't cause any problems!" Ginny watched her brothers' face pale as he struggled to retort.

"She's not an animal, Hermione!" He shot back.

She laughed coldly. "Right, that's why every time I see you, she's been all over you."

"She just…"

"Save it, Ron. I'm done. I don't want to hear this anymore. No, Harry, I would NOT like some tea."

As Hermione stormed off to bed, Lavender latched onto Ron, sobbing in his arms. Harry, Ginny noticed, was sitting by himself by the fire. "Did you hear?" he asked as she came over to sit by him.

"I think everyone heard."

Harry smiled at her. "I'm going to ask her out, Gin," he announced. He glanced at her suddenly. "What's wrong?"

Ginny, whose hands were shaking and wet, wiped her eyes with her sleeve. "I'm just happy for you," she lied.

The next morning was simply unbearable for Ginny. Hermione hadn't wasted any time in moving on from Ron. Whore, Ginny thought maliciously at breakfast as she saw Hermione all over Harry. She watched Ron look over miserably at the two. That was it. Slamming her silverware on the table, she stood. "I'm so disgusted with the two of you! You're hurting Ron and you don't even care. And you," she sneered at Harry. "You can't even tell the difference between a lie and when someone is faking happiness because they can't bear for you to see them cry."

With that said, and all eyes in the Great Hall on the Gryffindor Table, Ginny stormed off leaving her breakfast untouched. Walking down the corridor to her first class, she heard people sniggering behind her. "That was priceless," a voice called. "Don't cross the Weaslette, she might hex you."

"Or she'd cry," said a female voice.

Ginny knew both those voices; she stopped dead and whirled around. Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson stood several feet from her, smiling cruelly. "Oh, no, Blaise, she looks upset again!" Pansy laughed.

"I will hex you if you do not shut your bloody mouth!" Ginny snarled.

"I bet you're a hell of a fuck when you're angry," Blaise grinned, licking his lips. He reached for her, his eyes glinting. "Your attitude is just about the sexiest I've ever come across."

"Don't touch me!" she cried, stepping back.

Zabini's eyes grew dark as he flicked his wand toward her. "Silencio!" he hissed. Ginny touched her throat, her voice leaving her. "Do not let it slip about this," he smiled to Pansy and grabbed Ginny, pulling her to him. "Try to curse me now, wench." He smiled, his hands groping, his mouth everywhere as he dragged her into an empty classroom. "Your mouth has gotten you into trouble." He threw her to the floor, his eyes fierce.

Ginny shut her eyes, hearing the material of her robes tear.

Please, don't do this.