Ginny Weasley woke up Monday morning in a sullen mood. It might have had something to do with the fact that she woke up on the floor...but more likely, it was because Hermione had thrown her there.
"Gin, c'mon, you need to get up if you don't want to miss breakfast!"
Ginny growled as she pushed herself off of the floor. Hermione put her hands on her hips, something that Harry and Ron trembled upon seeing.
"Don't you growl at me, Virginia Weasley! Because as angry as you are right now, it is nothing compared to the horror that you will put us through if you don't eat. Now march to the bathroom and make yourself presentable!" Hermione mothered.
"Tick. Tick. Tick," Ginny stomped one foot down with each syllable.
"What on earth are you doing?" Hermione asked.
"That's the sound of your biological clock! Honestly, are you and Ron going to have children soon? Because I don't want to add you to my list of surrogate parents!" Ginny disappeared into the bathroom in just enough time to miss the pillow that Hermione threw, and it just bounced off of the doorframe.
About 30 minutes later, Ginny emerged from the bathroom, the steam billowing out after her. She pulled on her skirt and was just buttoning her shirt when she noticed the sunbeams streaming in through the window. She glided over to it, and watched the rise; the sky had been dark when Hermione had woken her.
e saw the sun every day, it was nothing new, but she never failed to be captivated. Sunrise in Gryffindor Tower was the most spectacular sight! She sighed and took her books from the various places around her bed and went down to the Common Room. Hermione was there, purposely sitting a few feet away from a bewildered Ron, and Harry was watching the whole thing with a quiet amusement.
He had grown up in a lot of ways after the Tri-Wizard Tournament. He turned, noticing her appearance in the room, and their eyes locked for a moment; both blushed and violently looked away. She turned her attention back to Hermione and Ron.
"Well, are you going to get up and come with me? Or are you two simply waiting for everyone else to leave the common room for some reason?" Ginny asked with a mischievous glint in her eye. Harry chuckled as Ron's face turned purple and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Well, let's go, then!" Hermione snapped. Ginny tried unsuccessfully to stifle the giggle rising in her throat. Hermione stalked all the way to the Great Hall.
He had seated himself by the door on purpose to wait for her. It opened, and Draco's head shot up, anticipating seeing her. But seeing that it wasn't the girl he wanted, he looked back down toward his food and scowled. Beside him, Zabini's chuckle was irritating.
"What," he seethed, leaning close to her, "is so funny?"
"Y-you have ketchup on your face," she managed. He scowled.
"I like it there," he mumbled. "Anything else?"
"You've scowled six times since we came to breakfast," Her eyes held amusement. He furrowed his brow.
"So?"
"We just came to breakfast two minutes ago!" she stated.
Draco started to retort something, but his attention was diverted when the doors slammed open and Lorelai stalked in, right past Draco and slid into a seat in an unoccupied area of the Slytherin table. He noted thoughtfully that her complexion seemed a little green...then that laughter caught his ear. Sure enough, Virginia Weasley had just strolled into the hall, followed by her git of a brother and his Mudblood girlfriend, not to mention Scarhead. He lowered his head, but discreetly watched the four out of the corner of his eye. His attentions were on Ginny, of course, and she looked sexy.
Not many girls at this school could look good in a plain school uniform, but she did.
She didn't wear much makeup, unlike eyeliner-queen Lorelai- wait! He was not going to include her in his assessment of the Weaslette. He watched Ginny's face intently, and when she caught his stare, she blushed and he didn't pull back. He just smirked...there was no embarrassment in his face.
There was nothing to be embarrassed about.
He liked to stalk his prey.
Blaise turned her head toward him and watched her friend's features twist as he ran through one thought after another. He was staring at something across the room and she followed his gaze...no, make that someone. He was openly challenging the youngest Weasley with his eyes, and Blaise had the feeling that this was not the first time that he'd, er, taken notice of her. She watched the girl's face flush at having not one, but two Slytherins stare at her, and she looked away, turning to talk with Potter. Blaise smirked on the inside. Malfoy had gone back to eating his food which was still warm.
Draco could feel her stare.
"What, Blaise?" he spat.
"Honestly, Draco, could you be any more obvious?" What's this about you staring at Weasley?" she whispered, not wanting anyone to hear.
"Weasley and I have...an understanding that shall remain between the two of us. What do you care?" he muttered.
"Just looking out for you, Malfoy. You know, the older and wiser bit..." she was cut off by the sound of Lorelai running out of the Great Hall, hand over her mouth, presumably running to the bathroom. "Besides," she continued, "you have a reputation to think about." A lazy grin spread across his face.
"What do you think I'm doing, Zabini?" She shook her head.
"But a Weasley? Malfoy, just last week you swore you'd never touch a muggle-lover."
"Blaise, all of that junk about a Malfoy not sinking to that level is just that: rubbish. Malfoys always get what they want. And if I want her, I'll get her. Her station will only determine how much I damage her in the process." Blaise snorted and gestured to Ginny's backside as she watched the Gryffindor leave the room.
"Well, there's your chance, lover-boy." Malfoy shrugged.
"There will be ample opportunity later," he said casually.
As soon as Ginny stepped into the Great Hall, she felt someone's eyes on her. And being that Harry was in front of her and had just told the joke that made her laugh, it wasn't him. She played with the idea of looking around to see if she could catch the guilty party, but chose instead to sit down and ignore it and hope that it would go away.
"Hey there, Gin! You're looking good this morning!" Seamus Finnegan winked at her. She could practically hear Ron's head whip around! He shot a murderous look at Seamus, who looked rather pleased with himself, and seethed at his sister.
"Ginny, button your top button!" She looked down, and sure enough, it was undone.
"You know what Ron? I know that it's undone," she spoke defiantly, "and I like it that way." Ron huffed and looked as though he had more to say, but Hermione placed a staying hand on his arm.
"Ron, settle down. Besides...even I have to wear my shirt like that sometimes if I want to breathe," she said. He quieted, but he didn't look happy about it.
Dammit! She could still feel someone staring at her. She lifted her chin proudly, and let the weird sensation pull her in the direction of the glare. She looked up, and sure enough, she came across Malfoy's eyes and stayed there. She could feel a blush spread across her cheeks...sure, she was blunt, but that didn't mean that she couldn't be properly embarrassed. She couldn't turn away, though...it was like he was sucking her in, and she felt very dirty. The contact was broken as he turned at something that Zabini said.
A few seconds later, Lorelai ran out of the Great Hall looking sick. Ginny became vaguely aware of the conversation around her, and someone was poking her. She looked at Hermione's finger.
"What?" she asked.
"Lorelai's sick...go check on her, Ginny."
"Why? She's a Slytherin...and she's your friend!" Ginny said, disinterested. Hermione narrowed her eyes.
"I have to stay here and keep your brother from killing Seamus. Besides, you should get to know her...she's not like the other Slytherins, and, believe it or not, she doesn't like Harry," she whispered. "Please, Gin. She looked really bad...." Hermione pleaded.
"Fine." Ginny got up and flounced out of the Great Hall.
Grrr. Someone SO owes me for this...she thought.
A/n: ok, this sucks, I know, but this was a freaking hard chapter to get out. The following chapters will begin the quick passing of time.
Anaxandra: Lorelai can tell her story and be like stone, for it's because of her circumstances that allow her to turn off her emotions, like so many other post-traumatic victims. Great question! See that button? Please review. Even if it's to say, "I hate it." Thanks. Ps...please go check out my songfic, "My Immortal," and its companion, "My Immortal: The Full Story."