A/N:  This chapter might be a little disturbing to some people and I apologize for that, but these events are necessary for my story.  Regardless, I hope that people will continue to read and enjoy what I've written… and don't forget to review!  Remember however, 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 3:  Stalkers

The next morning, Ginny awoke early.  She took this opportunity to take a nice long, hot shower.  Afterwards, she dressed herself in a short black skirt, a black fitted shirt with long bell-sleeves and black over-the-knee socks.  On her feet she wore chunky black slip-on shoes.  She carefully pulled her hair up into a bun and allowed a few tendrils to hang down and frame her slender face.  Once she was satisfied with how she looked, she put on her school robes without fastening them closed and slung her black school bag over her shoulder.  At that, she headed towards the Great Hall for an early breakfast.

Ginny entered the Great Hall and made her way towards an empty Gryffindor table.  She sat down and just enough food for one appeared before her, so she took it upon herself to serve herself breakfast.  While preparing to eat, the girl noticed that a few Slytherins happened to also partake in her idea of an early breakfast.  She saw Blaise Zabini… as well as Crabbe, Goyle and Draco.

Both Blaise and Draco fixed their gazes upon the girl… each one thinking different thoughts… each one with a different idea in mind.

Suddenly, Blaise stood up and walked over to Ginny, who was still sitting all alone at the Gryffindor table.

"Hello there, Weasley.  Did you enjoy the sorting ceremony yesterday evening?"

Ginny eyed Blaise cautiously.

"No need to act suspiciously.  You did promise to give me a chance."  The Slytherin pouted.

Ginny sighed, "That I did."  She looked up at him and smiled weakly, "I really didn't think much of the ceremony.  Kind of boring, really.  Funny… I used to think it was the neatest thing."

"Know what you mean… but the novelty definitely wears on you."  At that, he sat down next to the girl and without her knowing, he carefully looked her up and down.  He smiled evilly.

"You look great," he suddenly replied.

Ginny felt her cheeks get hot.  She was not used to compliments from boys… even if she was not interested in the boy as more than a friend.  Blaise, however, mistook her blush as something more.

"Ginny, what do you say we meet up later on.  Say tonight after curfew… at around midnight."

"Why so late?  Where would you want to go?" she asked innocently.

~~~

Blaise already had the entire scenario worked out.  Ginny would sneak out of her precious Gryffindor tower without anyone to protect her.  And then, she would make her way towards the dungeons to meet up with him.  But Crabbe and Goyle would be lurking about too… forcing Ginny into areas of the dungeon unknown to any but Slytherins.  Then, Crabbe and Goyle could do whatever they wished… he did not care.  And when all seemed lost, Blaise Zabini, the hero, would suddenly come to her rescue.  It was too perfect… surely, he would gain her trust after such an ordeal… and he would have her begging for him, aching for him by the end of the week.  What victory!

~~~

"Don't you trust me?  I just want to show you something and I don't want the other Slytherins to see… not just yet."

Ginny frowned, "Oh all right.  Where do you want to meet?"

Blaise grinned, "Meet me along the stairwells leading to the dungeons… near the potions classroom."

"Very well."

At that, Blaise walked away towards Crabbe and Goyle.  Draco, meanwhile, had already gotten up and left the Slytherin table.

Suddenly, the other students began making their way into the Great Hall for breakfast.  Ginny was greeted by Ron, Hermione and Harry.

Ron scowled at Ginny's appearance causing her to roll her eyes, but he did not comment.  He learned right well over the summer not to bother Ginny about her new attire or her new-founded personality.  Though he did not approve and would continue to not approve, he knew it was hopeless to get her to change back to who she used to be.

"Good morning, Ginny," Hermione said brightly with a smile.

Ginny smiled back at the bushy-haired brunette, "Hello."

Harry stared at Ginny for a moment; he had been doing that a lot since the summer, "Hey Ginny."

Ginny nodded in acknowledgement, but went straight back to finishing her breakfast.

"Why didn't you wait for us?" Ron inquired.

Ginny chewed her food and swallowed, "Wanted an early start is all… 'specially since there's this book in the library that I wanted to check out before classes started.  It's a supplement to some of the reading I'll be doing in Charms."

Hermione beamed at the girl.  Finally… a Weasley who takes school and studying seriously!

"Well, I'm off.  Ta-ra!"  At that, Ginny took a quick sip of her pumpkin juice, climbed over the bench and slung her black bag over her shoulder.  She then walked off towards the library.

Ron looked at both Harry and Hermione, "Well how d'you like that."  He raised his arms up in the air in sheer exasperation.

"Honestly, Ron… leave her be.  She is who she is… just accept it and be done with it.  Besides, it's not as bad as you're making it out to be," Hermione replied knowingly.

"Not as bad?"  Ron shouted.  "Are you joking?"  Ron's face grew redder by the second.

Harry stared after Ginny as she exited the Great Hall.  Apparently Harry Potter did start to notice that the littlest Weasley was indeed growing up… perhaps he would start paying more attention to her after all.

***

The day flew by for Ginny.  All of her classes went relatively smoothly… even Potions went over well.  She also began to notice that a few of the Gryffindor boys were starting to look at her.  But she could not tell if it was because they thought she looked odd or that she looked great, as Blaise Zabini so told her earlier at breakfast.

Ginny threw her school bag on the floor near her bed and flung her robes on top of her unmade bed.  Suddenly, she heard her stomach grumble.  She was getting hungry and it was nearly dinner time.  So, she decided to leave Gryffindor tower and make her way towards the Great Hall for dinner.

Once there, Ginny sat herself down at the Gryffindor table.  Instantly, she turned her gaze towards the Slytherin table where her brown eyes locked with silvery gray ones.  Draco Malfoy was giving her the most serious-looking glare ever.  What's his problem suddenly?

"Hi Ginny."  The fiery red-head's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by none other than Harry Potter.  He grinned sheepishly at her.

"Hello Harry," Ginny sighed disappointedly with a slight frown.  She really did not understand why the boy was suddenly showing such interest in her and it bothered her greatly.

"Mind if I sit with you?"

Ginny gestured that he sit down, "Be my guest.  Uh, Harry, where are Ron and Hermione and…"

"They'll all be along later."  At that, he placed an arm around her shoulders.

Ginny felt very uncomfortable.  Across the way, she could see Draco continuing to glare at her only now it seemed even more ominous than before.

Suddenly, she saw Blaise Zabini enter the Great Hall and take his place along side Draco.  His eyes turned towards her and he nodded acknowledging her presence.

"Hi Harry!  Hi Ginny!"  It was Collin Creevey.

Ginny smiled, "Hi Collin."

"Can I sit with you two?"

Harry frowned and removed his arm from around Ginny's shoulders.  Ginny immediately answered, "Sure you can."  She felt so relieved.  Harry's arm hanging all over her just felt… well, wrong.

After dinner was over, Ginny raced back up to Gryffindor tower in order to just have a little alone time before meeting up with Blaise in the dungeons.

'What on earth does he want to show me anyway?  Something doesn't seem quite right.  And what about Draco's warnings…?  Is Draco really dangerous… he didn't seem it?  But tonight at dinner… those glares…' thoughts were racing through her head.  'And what's gotten in to Harry?  A few days ago and he wouldn't have given me the time of day… but now?'

Before she knew it, it was nearing midnight and that meant meeting Blaise Zabini.  Quickly and quietly, she walked down the stairs from her dorm room and made her way through the common room and out of the portrait hole.

The corridors seemed darker than usual, but Ginny paid it no mind.  To help ease her mind a bit as she cautiously tried to avoid Filch and Mrs. Norris, she tried to guess as to what Blaise could possibly want to show her alone late at night.

'Perhaps he is ashamed of needing help in Charms… I'm very good at Charms.  Maybe he has a pet that only likes to come out at night… everyone knows that I have a weakness for little animals.  Or maybe he has a deep, dark secret that even Malfoy and the other Slytherins don't know about… and I'm the only one he wants to tell…'

Ginny smiled to herself as she neared the stairway leading to the dungeons.  Suddenly, she heard footsteps… and they seemed to be heading towards her.  Feeling nervous, Ginny decided to continue walking down the stairs rather than waiting for Blaise to show up.  Perhaps she would run into him on her way down?

The footsteps quickened and then multiplied.  Ginny's heart began to race and she set off at a run, but she suddenly found herself flung into the Potions classroom.  The door slammed shut and two great big hands took hold of her slender arms forcing her down to the ground.

Ginny tried to scream, but was abruptly stopped as another great big hand covered her mouth.  Then, she heard a hoarse whisper, "Silencio!"  Despite Ginny's attempts to call out for help, she was unable to make any sound.  Frantically, she tried to break free from her captors.

At that moment, Ginny felt a heavy body straddle over her while the second body continued to restrain her arms.

Ginny looked up, eyes wide and wild with fear.  'Oh gods… it's Goyle!' Ginny thought to herself.

Gregory Goyle looked down at the helpless Ginny and smirked, "Keep her still, Crabbe… it'll make it easier!"

Tears began to stream down Ginny's eyes.  Goyle shoved her skirt up and ripped her black panties right off her body.  Ginny continued her struggle, even more frantic at the realization of what was about to happen.

"Stop moving!" Goyle shouted.  With that, he slapped her, hard, several times across her face.  Bruises began to form almost immediately.

Suddenly, Ginny felt searing pain between her legs… she tried to shout out, but to no avail.  The silencing charm had not yet worn off.  The pain continued as Goyle had his way with her, Crabbe cheering him on.

"Hurry up, Goyle… I want a go!"

Ginny's eyes were filled with tears.  She was stunned, humiliated… losing her virginity in this way.  Despite it all, she continued to fight.

Goyle's expression was suddenly one of great satisfaction.  Ginny could feel his fluids oozing between her legs where her tender, previously-untouched skin burned as if on fire.  Goyle slapped her again causing her nose to bleed.  Tears mixed with blood.  With barely any strength left, she just laid there limply, succumbing to the inevitable.

"My turn!" shouted Crabbe.

"All right, all right…" Goyle sulked.

The two boys switched places.

Just as Crabbe was about to copy what Goyle had just done, he was whisked away.  It all happened so fast.  Ginny finally heard two great big thuds, which she assumed to be the sound of both Crabbe and Goyle being knocked out.

Totally humiliated and ashamed of what happened, Ginny got up and scampered towards the corner of the classroom where she curled herself tightly up into a ball and began to just sob and sob.  Finally, she looked up and saw a tall, dark figure of a young man in a black hooded cloak.

 The figure approached Ginny and extended his hand.  Hesitantly, Ginny took the hand.  Suddenly, she was swept up into the figure's arms, however, he did not allow her to see his face.  He silently carried her toward the Hospital Wing.

Once in the Hospital Wing, the cloaked figure set her down.

"Whoever you are… I owe you my life," Ginny stated.

The anonymous hero gently brushed her bruised cheek with his hand and then went to fetch Madame Pomfrey.

~*~*~*~*~*~

A special thanks to all those who have reviewed my story so far!!!  And an extra special thanks to Indy (*many hugs*) for adding me to her "favorite authors" list… I'm so very honoured!!!

I hope that everyone will continue to enjoy what I write… and don't forget to leave me nice long reviews!  :-)