A/N: This story will be a bit fluffy in parts and a bit… well… smutty in parts (heehee)… and I'm sure that the characters a little OOC, but hey… I can't be perfect. Regardless, I hope that people enjoy what I've written and just take the story as it is… Again, this is my first ever fanfic so please please be kind! Read, review and most importantly… ENJOY!!
All things Harry Potter belong to the wonderful JK Rowling… :-)
Chapter 1: Returning to Hogwarts
The Hogwarts Express was just beginning to leave Platform 9 and ¾ at Kings Cross Station in London. Ginny Weasley, the youngest and only girl Weasley, sat alone in her own compartment and just gazed out her window.
Though she was excited to be starting her sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she could not help but be slightly depressed. This past summer had proven to be most unsatisfying and in many ways, just down right dreadful.
She was changing… she knew it, but she just wished that her family and friends knew it too. Rather than embracing Ginny's attempts at expressing her individuality, everyone seemed to want to force her to be something that she definitely was not. And to make matters worse, Ron felt that it was his right and obligation as her older brother to dictate everything that she did as a means of protecting her. Protection from what? Honestly!
Ginny sighed deeply and pushed her long red tresses behind her ear. She smiled slightly as she saw the landscapes passing by. She was definitely glad to be going back to school once again.
~Flashback Start~
Ginny raced down the stairs of The Burrow and immediately headed outside to enjoy the day.
"Ginny… what on earth are you wearing?" Ron gasped.
"Clothes. Why?" Ginny responded matter-of-factly and slightly annoyed.
She had her long red hair pulled neatly back into a ponytail. She wore a black cap-sleeved top that exposed her mid-drift and tight, low-rise black jeans that flared slightly at the ankle. On her feet she wore black boots and along her slender arms she wore several black jelly-bracelets. After a dreadful 4th year, Ginny had made it a point to save money so that she could buy herself new clothes and accessories to express her new-founded personality… it took a year of saving, but it was worth it.
Ron just stood there gaping for a minute, "Well… you look… you look like death, that's what!" Ron's face was starting to turn a bit red.
Ginny just scowled and rolled her eyes, "Whatever. I, personally, think that I look fine. If you have a problem with the way I look then I don't know what to tell you."
"But Ginny, people will get the wrong idea about you. People will start to talk and you'll attract the… the wrong kind of people."
"Let them talk," she replied coolly while narrowing her eyes slightly at her brother.
Ron's fists were now clenched at his sides and his face was getting redder by the second due to his frustration, "But Harry and Hermione will be here later on… what will they say? What about Harry, Ginny?"
Ginny frowned. 'Doesn't he know that I've been over Harry for some time now… like for two years? And doesn't he realize that I'm not out to impress anyone anyway… his friends included?' she thought to herself.
"Ron, I honestly don't care what either of them think. I want people to accept me for me… and this… is me!" At that, Ginny stormed outside and she did not return until well after Harry and Hermione arrived for their summer stay at The Burrow.
~Flashback End~
Ginny's thoughts were suddenly interrupted as she heard people pass by her compartment. There was quite a loud commotion so she decided to take a look and see what was going on.
"Watch it, Weasley!" came that all-to-familiar voice. Draco Malfoy.
Ginny had opened her door to see the commotion and then accidentally bumped into Draco Malfoy, causing both of them to lose their balance. Luckily for Ginny, he regained his balance rather quickly and caught her arm thus preventing her from falling over.
"Watch it yourself, Malfoy."
Draco looked down at the only girl Weasley, still in his arms. He arched his eyebrow suddenly at her reply. This was definitely not the same Ginny Weasley he remembered. Not only had her appearance changed, but her attitude and the way she carried herself had changed as well. He quickly regained his composure and exhibited a calm and cool exterior.
He had to get the thoughts and memories of Diagon Alley out of his head, "Don't you have something better to do, Weasley? Like tag along with your brother the weasel, the mudblood, and… Potter? By the way, has Potter started showing you attention since you've started growing up?"
Draco's words were a big mistake, "For your information, Malfoy… I haven't liked Potter since the end of my third year… and as for my brother and Granger? Well… let's just say that I walk along a different path from them… thank the gods!" she roared.
She definitely was no longer the same Ginny Weasley… no longer Ron's little sister and Harry Potter's biggest fan. She had changed and the change, in Draco's mind, was for the better. She looks so attractive standing up for herself and acting so confidently… and the way she's dressed…
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted, "You can let go of me now, Malfoy."
Draco could not believe it, though his expression said otherwise. Throughout their entire conversation, if you could even call it a conversation, he had held onto her. Suddenly, he was aware of how soft her skin felt.
He let go of her and grimaced at his hands, "Now I need to disinfect myself… I'm contaminated with Weasley…"
Ginny scowled and stormed away.
"Good one, Draco," came another familiar drawl. Blaise Zabini.
Draco turned to look at his friend and he smirked.
Blaise shook his head in admiration, "She's turned into quite a looker, really. And that temper… matches her hair." He chuckled to himself, "It would be quite a feat for someone to break her down, don't you think? I think that she will become my little project. Yes, I will make it so that she will do anything I ask…" he smiled evilly.
Draco felt a lurch in his stomach at his friend's words. This disturbed him greatly. Normally, he would want to join in… but it felt wrong for some reason. What the hell is happening to me?
"Don't let on, Draco… I'm counting on you."
Draco just stood there silent. Blaise Zabini took Draco's silence to mean that he would keep quiet about his plans for Ginny Weasley. Little did Zabini know, that Draco's intentions were very different… very different indeed.
***
Draco's stomach was not feeling so well. He glared momentarily at his friend, though he took no notice, and then excused himself. At that, he quickly walked away in order to be alone and think. Blaise, meanwhile, took this time away from Draco to follow Ginny… his new project.
Blaise raced along the length of the train until he came upon an empty compartment save for one person… the one person he was looking for… Ginny Weasley.
Ginny was staring out the window, her back towards the door of the compartment, "Go away… leave me alone."
Blaise smirked at first and then wore an expression of great care and concern, "Sorry 'bout him. Wish I'd gotten there sooner. You know, not all Slytherins are evil prats like Malfoy."
Ginny turned around suddenly. Blaise could see that she had been crying despite her show of strength and confidence just minutes ago. Her eyes were red and slightly swollen and tears streaked her pale cheeks.
"I bet…" she replied sarcastically through sniffles.
Blaise's eyebrows furrowed, "That's not a fair assessment, Weasley. You Gryffindors never give us Slytherins a chance. If you ever took the time to get to know us, you'd see that what I'm saying is true."
Ginny bit her lip; she knew that what Blaise said was indeed true. But at the same time, no Slytherin had really ever given a Gryffindor any reason to want to get to know them. She stammered, "I… I guess…"
Blaise heaved a sigh, "It's all right… we do make it difficult for you Gryffindors."
Ginny smiled weakly, thankful that he somehow knew what she was thinking. Can he read my thoughts?
"I'll make you a deal, Weasley. What do you say that you… a Gryffindor… give me… a Slytherin… a chance. I'll do the same for you too. We'll show both our houses that Gryffindors and Slytherins can get along," he smiled. "It'll allow me to prove to you that not all of us Slytherins are evil…"
Ginny's expression turned thoughtful, "I suppose… but how do I know that I can trust you and that you aren't just saying things to trick me into something… you do have a reputation Blaise Zabini."
Blaise feigned hurt and placed his hand across his heart, "You misunderstand me, Weasley… I'm not the evil Slytherin that people make me out to be… it's Malfoy that you want to watch out for. He's the evil one… the son of a Death-Eater."
Ginny gasped at the word "Death-Eater." Blaise noticed this and saw it as his one assurance to keep Malfoy quiet about his "project."
"Anyway, all I'm asking for is a chance… a chance for you to get to know me. Come on, you can't deny me a chance now, can you?"
Ginny sighed and reluctantly replied, "All right… but don't expect much." With that she stood up and exited the compartment.
Blaise smirked. 'Don't expect much, you say… when I'm through, you'll beg me to take you! You'll do anything to be with me!' he thought to himself.
***
Draco, meanwhile, was sitting alone in his own compartment. Crabbe and Goyle were nowhere to be found. The great big goons!
Suddenly, he saw a flash of red dressed in black quickly pass by his compartment. He threw open the door and bolted after the girl.
"Hey Weasley," Draco drawled, but almost shouting. "I need to speak to you."
Ginny turned around. Her eyes still showed signs that she had been crying. Draco's insides lurched again at the sight of her beautiful eyes. Did I cause that…?
"Malfoy, I'm in no mood for your criticism or your teasing. Just stay away from me… I was warned about you!"
Zabini!! Damn him… the liar!! "Warned about me, eh? Do you feel threatened by me… do I scare you?" his stare was icy cold now.
Ginny began to tremble as the blond boy moved closer to her, closing the amount of space between them. "No. You don't scare me," she said defiantly though her body's natural reactions clearly said otherwise.
"I'll have you know that whatever warnings you may have heard… they are all lies. Right now, there's only one person you need worry about. You know whom I'm talking about. I suggest that you stay away from him at all costs… your very reputation is at stake."
Ginny cocked an eyebrow. She felt confused. 'Is he trying to warn me about Blaise Zabini? When Blaise just warned me about Malfoy…? Who do I trust? I thought they were friends anyway,' she thought to herself.
"Since when did you care about my reputation… or anyone else's reputation besides your own, for that matter?" tears were welling once again in her big brown eyes.
Draco's heart ached though he did not show it, "I know you don't believe me… and I guess that I don't really expect you to. But for some reason, I feel the need to warn you… so I'm doing just that." He then casually brushed some of her hair behind her ear, "Plain and simple, really. You can either take my advice, and thus heed my warnings, or you can ignore them. The choice is yours. I did my part by telling you."
Ginny's heart raced at Draco's subtle touch, though she could not think why. Again, she began to tremble. Draco moved away from her slightly at the sight of her shaking, though he wanted to hold her tightly in his arms.
'Perhaps I'll heed both of their warnings… besides, I promised Blaise to try and get to know him… I can't go back on my word. And Draco really seems sincere… I'll just be careful… with them both,' Ginny thought to herself.
Ginny nodded and spoke softly, "Thanks for the warning." At that, she walked away. Draco just stood there gazing at her as she walked away.
He knew that his father would be most displeased by his display of concern… and almost affection… for the Weasley girl. The Weasley's had been rivals of the Malfoy's for quite some time and his father had warned him especially to not get attached to the girl. Despite his father's words, he could not help how he was feeling. It shocked him to the very core of his being that this girl… this Weasley… could stir up even the slightest bit of emotion and feeling. It frightened him… yet it exhilarated him. She was intoxicating and he knew that he must, at all costs, protect her from Zabini and any other person's plot that would result in hurting her. Even if it meant defying his father… the most powerful Death-Eater in Europe. Even if it meant losing all of his friends… as well as destroying his reputation. Even if it meant that he could never show her his true feelings… ever…