The Ultimate Payback

Disclaimer; I do not own Harry Potter and I am not getting any payment or royalties from this story. Everyone and everything Harry Potter related belongs to J.K Rowling. Only the plot is mine.

A/N; I am SOOOOOOOO sorry that this took so long! I really am! I don't have any excuses, other than I started reading Twilight (I know I'm late) that was a bad idea. I couldn't put the damn thing down! Lol. So here it is! Enjoy! Sorry again!

Chapter 6; Regrets

Ginny sat in front of the roaring fire in the Gryffindor common room thinking. She had been doing that a lot these past two weeks. Ginny thought of everything that had happened from the start of the year to now. How she had felt before coming to school, how she had stayed up all night planning how to get back at Lavender, the Patil twins, Millicent, Pansy, and Draco. How Harry had acted, how he had finally started to like her, how Blaise acted when himself, Draco, and Ginny would all hang out, how much Draco had changed throughout the year, how much Ginny herself had changed throughout the year. She couldn't deal with it anymore. Ginny tried to convince herself that everyone including Draco had deserved what they got, and even though she knew that they all did deserve it Ginny couldn't help the overwhelming guilt that riddled through her. Ever since she saw the look on Blaise's face, that look of disgust, Ginny had trouble looking at her own reflection.

"Hey Gin."

"Hey Colin, hi Neville." Ginny said without tearing her eyes away from the fire.

"Ginny..." Neville started. "We're sorry for telling Harry."

"I know."

"We just thought this way he'd back off a bit." Colin added.

"I know."

"We didn't mean to make you upset." Neville finished.

"I know. And you didn't." Ginny sighed. "I understand why you did it, it's alright." Ginny looked at her two friends and gave them a big fake smile.

"Well... Good." Neville said even though he could tell Ginny wasn't completely okay with it.

"So how did it feel to crush Malfoy?" Colin asked smiling as he sat down beside Ginny. "I wish I could have seen it."

"It felt great." Ginny lied.

"It's what you wanted isn't it?" Neville raised an eyebrow at Ginny.

"Of course." Ginny smiled. "Just what I wanted." She added under her breath.

Neville and Colin looked at each other sceptically but they remained silent.

"I don't feel very well. I'm going to go for a walk." Ginny stood and walked towards the portrait hole.

"Okay." Neville and Colin chorused.

Ginny walked aimlessly through the halls still thinking about everything that had happened this year. She looked down at the tight jeans and flattering top she was wearing, she caught her reflection in one of the windows, and she glanced at the different colours of her hair. She was sick of all of it. Ginny just wanted to be Ginny again. She didn't want to have to wake up early in the morning to make sure she looked good if she was tired enough to sleep an extra hour. She didn't want to wear clothes that made it uncomfortable for her to move in. She didn't want to be fake anymore. Ginny backtracked her steps and walked back into the Gryffindor tower. She ignored the curious glances from Colin and Neville and went straight up into her empty dorm.

Ginny searched through her trunk and pulled out an old t-shirt and a faded, ripped, baggy pair of jeans. Ginny changed quickly and went into the bathroom to wash off all her heavy makeup. After pulling her hair up into a lose pony tail Ginny finally looked in the mirror and refused to shy away from her reflection as she re-did her makeup the way she used to. Light eye liner and a small amount of grey eye shadow. After her makeup was back to the way Ginny was used to she stared long and hard at her reflection. She hated herself right now, changing her appearance back to the shy, innocent, nice Ginny didn't have the affect she had hoped it would. Ginny stood there for a long time analyzing who she had become this year, what she had turned herself into. She cheated, schemed, lied, played games with people's minds, flirted shamelessly to boys she would rather roll her eyes at, intentionally hurt many people, and then, finally when she had found someone she liked, someone she could really talk to, she pushed them away because that was her plan all along.

"How am I going to fix this?" Ginny asked her reflection.

First thing was first, she would have to explain to Harry that even though she had in fact gained Draco's affection just to use it against him that didn't mean that she wanted Harry, he would be very upset but it was better than having him look at her like she was a idol. Then, of course she would have to explain everything to Blaise, which would be hard. Would he accept it? Would he even talk to her? But the worst was of course going to be left for last, Ginny would have to talk to Draco... what she would say wasn't clear yet, but she knew she had to talk to him.

Ginny sighed and walked out of the bathroom. Ginny walked down to the common room and spotted Harry easily, taking a deep breath Ginny walked over to him. You can do this, it has to be done. She told herself over and over again.

"Hi Harry." Ginny said.

"Hey Ginny!" Harry beamed.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure." Harry stood and led Ginny out the portrait hole. He leaned against the wall and looked at her curiously. "What's up?"

"It's about what happened in the Great Hall." Ginny said without meeting his eyes.

"What about it?"

"Well... What Colin and Neville told you was true, but it doesn't change anything I said to you before." Ginny chanced at glance up at Harry, he was furious.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want you, I haven't for a while. I thought that had sunk in but then when you heard what was going on you started acting like we still had a chance, you have to know that we don't. I'm sorry Harry, I love you..."

"And I love you. What's the problem?" Harry was obviously confused.

"... Like a brother." Ginny clarified.

"It's Zabini isn't it?"

"No." Ginny actually laughed at this. "I love Blaise like I love Colin."

"I thought you were just using him to get to Malfoy."

"No, I do actually like Blaise." Ginny looked at the floor again.

"It's Malfoy then." Harry said through gritted teeth.

"It isn't anyone. Why do you automatically think that just because I don't like you I have to be in love with someone else? Can't I just not be interested?" Ginny felt her own temper rise.

There was a moment of silence as the truth of Ginny's words sunk into Harry's mind, and as the doubt sunk into Ginny's. "So there's no chance?" The pain was clear in his voice.

"None." Ginny said holding her head up defiantly trying to ignore the pang of guilt that surged through her.

"Okay then." Harry said curtly although it was clear by his expression that he was still very hurt and angry.

"I'm sorry."

Harry didn't say anything; he spun on his heel and walked away faster than Ginny thought possible. Ginny sighed.

"It could have been worse." Ginny muttered to herself. "One down, two to go."


Blaise sat silently staring at a keyed up Draco Malfoy sitting on the black leather couch in front of him. It had been just under a month since the incident in the Great Hall with Ginny and Draco had never been the same since. Blaise knew the reason for this of course, Draco had never been rejected, and it hit him hard. At least that is what Draco would claim, Draco wouldn't admit what it really was, not that he was turned down, not who he was turned down by, it was that Draco had finally found someone he loved more than himself and that person was just stolen away from him. Blaise knew he couldn't sit here and watch his friend burry himself deeper, he had to do something.

"It's nice out, do you want to go and play Quidditch?" He asked already knowing Draco's answer.

"No." Came Draco dull emotionless tone.

"You can't sit in here all day." Blaise sighed.

"Watch me."

"I won't." Blaise looked at his mate seriously but Draco didn't seem to notice, or he just didn't care. Blaise sighed again. "It's been almost a month now mate, you have to pull yourself together.

"I'm fine." Draco said through gritted teeth. Blaise could see from the expression on Draco's face that memories of that day were passing behind his eyes.

"No you're not." Blaise challenged. "Everyone else may not think that something is up, I'll admit you're a fantastic actor, but I can see that this is affecting you more than you'd like to admit."

"It's not." Draco said.

"You lie. Look, I know what she did hurt you, but you have to just accept it." Blaise hoped this would set Draco off. And sure enough only moments after the words had reached Draco's ears his face contorted with rage and he stood facing Blaise with a fury that Blaise had never seen before.

"Accept what? That she turned me down? Fine, I can accept that," This made Blaise confused. "accept that what she said cut deeper than I ever thought? I can accept that too. Accept that I like the Weasley? Never." Draco shook his head and started pacing around the room.

"Are you saying that it isn't what Ginny said, it isn't that she rejected you like you were something on the bottom of her shoe that is making you act this way?" Draco gave Blaise a warning look which Blaise ignored. "You're telling me that you can't deal with yourself because you fell for the Weasley?" Draco didn't need to speak for Blaise to know the answer. "Is it because you fell for Ginny, or is it just because you fell?" Blaise asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Both." Draco admitted.

"Wow." Blaise went silent for a moment. "You amaze me," Draco looked at Blaise curiously. "what would you be like if Ginny had accepted you? If she had agreed to be with you? You fell; face it, you do feel, just like the rest of us." Draco glared at Blaise causing Blaise to smirk. "Sorry to tell you mate but guess what? You're human." And with that Blaise stood and left a confused Draco with his thoughts.

Blaise walked all over the school looking for Ginny. He had to talk to her, to find out what exactly happened that day. Blaise felt a small twinge of guilt when he thought about talking to Ginny behind Draco's back, Draco was his best mate, but Ginny had been a good friend too. Of course after what happened Blaise had taken Draco's side without thinking twice about it, what Ginny did to him was unthinkable, especially to do it to someone who was so new at feeling those particular emotions, but then Blaise had realized that Ginny had never actually known that about Draco, Draco had never given her the chance. So he searched. He looked for Ginny down at the lake, in the Great Hall, the library, and the kitchens. Just when he was about to walk up to her common room and ask someone where she was did Blaise finally find her. Ginny was walking towards the same corridor that Blaise stood in seemingly unseeing him, but Blaise watched her face carefully.

Something was different with Ginny, she wasn't wearing the tight revealing clothes that she had adopted this year, instead she seemed to have gone back to the old worn ripped jeans and simple t-shirts she used to wear. Her makeup was different too, she no longer wore the heavy black eyeliner and dark crimson lipstick, she seemed to have instead gone to the more subtle natural look. And her hair was pulled up into a messy ponytail. Ginny had gone back to the girl she was before this year. Blaise only pondered what this could have meant for a moment, Ginny was getting closer to her common room and she had yet to spot Blaise. That's when Blaise noticed that even though her eyes were directed ahead Ginny wasn't actually seeing anything or anyone. She seemed to be going back to her common room on pure instinct and routine alone rather than want or need.

"We have to talk." Blaise hissed in Ginny's ear as he led her down the corridor and behind a tapestry. Blaise noted with slight worry that Ginny didn't flinch when he grabbed her elbow and pulled her off course, Ginny didn't seem to notice him at all actually. What was going on?

"I thought you hated me." The sound of Ginny's voice startled Blaise, he looked at her curiously, she wasn't looking at him, her eyes were cast downward in what appeared to be shame.

"Ginny what happened to you?" Blaise felt all his angry and resentment towards Ginny for hurting Draco melt away. Something was wrong and Blaise was determined to figure it out.

"I'm sick of living a lie." Ginny barely whispered.

Blaise caught every word. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you hate me?" Ginny still didn't look at him.

Blaise considered that for a moment, did he hate Ginny? He was unsure. Was he upset with her? Most definitely. Did he want to figure out what was going on? More than anything. Was he worried about her sudden change? Yes, surprisingly. Did he hate her? "No, I don't hate you." Blaise said honestly.

"You should." Ginny whispered.

"Tell me what happened." It wasn't a request.

"You'll hate me." Ginny said in a stronger tone.

"I already said I didn't hate you." Blaise's voice was gentle.

"You will when I'm finished." Ginny sighed.

"Just tell me." Again, it wasn't a request.

Ginny looked up into Blaise's kind, and somehow caring, deep brown eyes and she felt compelled to tell him everything. Somewhere deep down Ginny found the strength to do just that, she plunged into her story about how much she hated Hogwarts because of everything everyone said and did. Blaise smirked when Ginny told him how Colin, Neville, and Luna had convinced her to go through with her plans that Ginny was perfectly contented with just leaving as wishful thinking. He laughed out loud when Ginny reminded him about what happened to Lavender Brown in the Great Hall. Blaise's eyebrows rose dangerously close to his hairline when Ginny explained all the shameless flirting she did in an attempt to tone down the Patil twins. He actually congratulated her on being sneaky enough to trick Snape into providing her with a tutor from Slytherin so she would be able to figure out the location and password to the Slytherin common room so she could switch Millicent's clothing. And once again he laughed out loud when Ginny told him about the potion that caused Pansy's rapid weight gain. He then proceeded to tell Ginny that Pansy hadn't lost a pound; earning him a death glare. But his calm, and somewhat amused expression hardened when Ginny told him her plans for Draco. When she was finished with her story Ginny looked up at his face and saw that it had turned cold and dark.

"I told you that you would hate me." Ginny looked down at the floor again.

"You used me." Blaise said in a shocked tone.

"I didn't!" Ginny defended immediately; she knew this was going to happen.

"You wanted to get close to Draco; I was the only way that could happen." Blaise accused.

"No! If you remember, you were the one that came to me and invited me to dinner and started to hang out with me. You practically forced me onto Draco!" Ginny nearly yelled.

Blaise winced, she was right. "Okay, I suppose I didn't help." Blaise pinched the bridge of his nose trying to sort everything Ginny had just told him.

"It was never my intention to use you, but as long as we continued to talk, and as long as Draco was there, there was no way to avoid getting closer to him through you." Ginny explained. Blaise couldn't argue with that logic.

"Okay," Blaise said slowly. "so you were tired of everyone making fun of you and you decided to get back at them. Brilliantly I might add." Blaise smirked. "Is the right?"

"Yes," Ginny nodded. "and now I feel terrible."

"Why?" Blaise cocked an eyebrow.

Ginny gave Blaise a confused look. Hadn't he been listening? "Didn't you hear me?"

"I heard you fine."

"I hurt people, I destroyed their reputations." Ginny exclaimed.

"True, but they hurt you first, and for years. All you did was give them what they deserved. And personally I think they deserved much more."

Ginny was speechless. Was Blaise always right?

"How about this; think about everything you did, all the planning and the results and the after effects." Blaise added after a moment of silence.

"Okay." Ginny was still confused.

"Now, do you feel guilty about what you did to Lavender?"

"Yes." Ginny answered without hesitation.

"Do you really?" Blaise raised an eyebrow.

Ginny thought for a moment? Did she...? "No, I don't."

"I didn't think so. Now, what about the Patil twins?" Blaise asked.

"No." Ginny said truthfully.

"Millicent?" Blaise was smirking now.

"No." Ginny couldn't help smirking back.

"Pansy?" Blaise seemed amused. "If you don't say no then there is something seriously wrong with you." Blaise added after Ginny hesitated.

"No I don't." Ginny laughed.

"Good." Blaise sighed in relief. "Now, do you feel guilty about Draco?" Blaise raised an eyebrow.

Ginny was about to open her mouth to give Blaise the same answer when suddenly she paused. Did she really feel nothing for what she did to Draco? She had to feel guilty about someone she hurt or she wouldn't be having a problem right now would she? "Yes." She said quietly.

"Well... you could always talk to him. But he is pretty pissed." Blaise gave Ginny a sad smile.

"I'd have to think of what to say." Ginny admitted. "Are you still mad at me?" She asked timidly looking at the floor rather than meeting Blaise's eyes.

"No." Blaise said without hesitation.

Ginny looked up and saw that Blaise was smiling warmly like he used to before that day in the Great hall. Ginny couldn't help but smile back.

"I should get back." Blaise said as he turned to walk away.

"Yeah. Thanks Blaise." Ginny said a little awkwardly.

"Just think about what you're going to say to Draco. He'll be difficult but give him time." Blaise walked down the hall. "And Ginny?"

"Yeah?"

"I always said you could be a Slytherin." Blaise smirked and spun on his heel without another word.

Ginny walked back to the Gryffindor common room with more on her mind than before she had left, yet she felt oddly relieved; like a huge weight had in fact been lifted. It wasn't until Ginny was lying in bed that she realized what Blaise was trying to tell her. Draco did care for her; that could be the only reason why he would be so upset. Ginny wondered why that bothered her; that she had hurt someone who actually cared about her and her opinion. Even though everything had fallen into place, even though Ginny finally understood where her guilt had come from, even with all these certainties Ginny couldn't help but think that there was something more.

Unable to get the feeling that she had missed something out of her head Ginny thought back to that day when she crushed Draco in the Great Hall. Ginny remembered the feel of Draco's lips on her own, so gentle yet so determined. She thought about the bewildered look on his face when she turned him down, like he couldn't believe someone was saying no to him. Finally, Ginny thought about the pain that etched on his face, she had really hurt him and in return she felt horrible. Suddenly Ginny sat straight up in bed. Finally everything fell into place, Blaise wasn't just trying to tell her that Draco cared for her, and her guilt wasn't trying to tell her that she hurt someone that proved they could change; both her guilt and Blaise were trying to tell Ginny that not only did Draco care for her, but Ginny herself cared for Draco.

Oh crap. Ginny thought horrified. I'm in love Draco bleeding Malfoy!

A/N; Again; I am SO sorry!!I'd like to thank my reviewers; Isabela de Lincourt, Moonlight Tansy Moon, sing-me-this-lullaby, EmeraldGreyClouds, BelhavenOnTap, opaque-girl, emo, iMnOtReAlLYcRaZy, DodgerMcClure, bittersweetazn, lucygirl07, Ravenclaw's Redhead, SlytherinHottie94, and snowfire81. Thank you all so much! Only one chapter left! The speed I get the chapter out all depends on my readers! So click the little button right there and leave me a review to get me off my butt and updating!

To Emo; You didn't sign your review so I couldn't e-mail you to respond. It's not that Draco fell for her fast, it may seem that way but in truth he has always liked her, he was just never able to admit it. Thanks for the review!