Chapter 3 - Getting Girly and Green Eyed

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Blaise felt like a different girl from the one who had walked the school corridors just a few days ago. Sitting behind not-so-loony Lovegood in Muggle Studies had literally changed her life. Somehow, asking Luna for assistance in bringing Ginny and Draco together as a real life Beatrice and Benedick had gained the mellow Machiavelli's aid in changing Blaise's life too.

I'm wearing makeup. I've taken the chip off my shoulder. This weekend delighted Mum sends my new robes so I can chuck out the baggy ones from my wardrobe. I have publicly declared my interest in boys...I am officially a girl.

Smiling at her thoughts, Blaise glanced around and met the blue eyes of a boy sitting at the table directly across the aisle. He was a Ravenclaw, one of those easygoing athletic types she'd seen sitting with the Quidditch players at Luna's table. She wondered what he was staring at. Blaise quickly checked the cauldron she and Fiona Flint were tending. The Bellicose Potion looked fine, just needed a few more minutes of anti clockwise stirring, and Fiona had that covered.

She caught the boy's eyes again and widened her own in realisation. Oh gods...she was what he was staring at! What was his first name? Blaise had only heard him referred to as Mr. Boot by Professor Snape, whose dark voice always implied that he'd like to give the brown haired student the boot right out of his dungeon. Snape disparaged every student that wasn't Slytherin, however, so that didn't mean anything. Blaise sighed, desperately envying the boy's shoulder-length straight hair.

"Mr. Boot. There is no possible advantage gained by staring at your neighbour. Five points from Ravenclaw. Keep your attention on your potion and not Ms. Zabini's sudden change in appearance."

Blaise had to learn his name because she could not call a boy 'boot.' She pretended not to hear the smothered laughter from the rest of the class or see a rueful smile while looking over at another table.

Draco was sneering at Pansy. In response to something she had whispered, he contemptuously announced that people who were confused about another's gender were too stupid to live.

Pansy immediately tried to placate her idol. Without thought, she gestured with a ladle full of liquid, splashing her partner Millicent's broad face with Bellicose Potion. Instantly enraged, the girl starting cursing Pansy and threatening bodily harm.

As Professor Snape stalked over to administer the antidote, Blaise glanced sideways across the aisle. The Ravenclaw smiled at her again—he had such a nice smile—and tossed a note that landed in front of her. She unfolded the note.

I always knew you were a girl. No offence, but Snape and Malfoy are both gits. May I walk to you to the Great Hall after class? Terry

Reading the note over her partner's shoulder, Fiona gasped, "Say yes, dummy!"

After sliding the note into her schoolbag, Blaise smiled shyly at Terry and nodded her head. He grinned. Pretending to concentrate solely on bottling the potion and writing their names on the flagon for testing, she felt like a mess of nerves inside. Getting all fluttery over the thought of a boy had to be the ultimate in girly. Blaise kept her eyes off her handsome neighbour, but she couldn't keep the smile off her face.

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Humming Lunar Love, her favourite Weird Sisters tune, today, Luna gazed around the Muggle Studies classroom in dreamy satisfaction. She had managed to coincidentally arrive for class at the same early time as Ginny and 'accidentally' bump into her, knocking both of their schoolbags onto the floor.

"Oh my...let me help you...so sorry...I must have been in dreamland." Blaise's derogatory remark came in handy.

Ginny-Beatrice huffed in exasperation and blew a bright red strand of hair away from her face. "Its okay, Luna...No, that's not my essay...Wait a minute. You're partnered with Blaise Zabini?

"Yes, that's right. She's very...interesting."

"She's a Slytherin."

"Slytherins aren't all bad."

The matter of fact observation lit the fuse of a typical redhead temper. "She's got something going on with Malfoy, Luna. That's as bad as you can get."

"Is that what you think?"

"That's what I saw."

"That's not what Blaise told me…." Luna allowed her gaze to drift off to a point above the other girl's left shoulder. Idly, she wondered how long it would take the girl to break down and ask.

"What did she tell you?"

Hmmm, she'd lasted to a count of 6—pretty good for an impulsive person. Ginny's not so gentle grabbing and shaking of the blonde girl's arm encouraged her to answer, "Well, because you're a friend," Ignoring the raised red eyebrow, Luna continued, "and because Blaise didn't say that it was a secret…."

"Spill it, Lovegood!"

"Ow...stop shaking me...all right...they're just friends."

"Just friends—after that scene in the Hall—friends," said Ginny, in a flat tone of disbelief.

"Draco is trying to impress somebody and Blaise wants another boy to notice she's a girl. That's all they've got going on."

"Who?"

"Terry Boot, sixth year Ravenclaw." After another impatient shake, Luna lifted hooded eyes to say, "You meant Draco? You really should be more specific. Blaise doesn't know. He's very secretive. It's a Slytherin thing." Stuffing the last of the fallen books into her schoolbag, Luna said mildly, "Why all the interest?"

"No interest, other than keeping tabs on the worst enemy my family has at this school."

"Oh." Luna nodded her head, trying to project an 'I get it, I think', understanding. "In that case, if I hear anything else…."

"You'll let me know. Not that I personally care or anything. It's only precautionary," Ginny said defensively.

"A shield charm of prevention is worth a stay at St. Mungo's of cure." Luna turned and drifted sedately over to her seat.

Smiling at the memory, Luna tuned back in to the class discussion. Professor Hands seemed to enjoy listening to his students stumble through Shakespeare's play. The class was now reading the second Act, and Beatrice had just used the pretence of not recognising Benedick during a dance at the masked ball to take him down a peg or two. Silently following along, a few of the phrases struck Luna as very pertinent.

The commendation is not in his wit, but in his villainy, for he both pleases men and angers them.

Luna contemplated Ginny's profile and thought the girl was probably enjoying that part without having a clue why it related to her personally. She smiled.

Blaise had sent a note through Terry to meet after lunch by the statue of Gregory the Smarmy. Luna had been elated that Draco had repeated Ginny's 'everyone else in this school thinks you're a boring prat' several times during the meal in an amazingly Benedick-like way. After all, he wouldn't be so angry if his feelings weren't hurt, and his feelings wouldn't be hurt if he didn't care…. The plot was thickening.

"Perhaps Ms. Lovegood will tell us what part of Benedick's words to Don Pedro most indicated his true feelings."

It seemed that the teacher had noticed her preoccupation and was trying yet again to call her out on it. Luna sighed. Why were professors so keen on using eye contact as proof of attention? She could stare through the man all class and not hear a word the entire time.

Shrugging over the lack of logic, Luna dutifully read aloud what she considered pertinent, "She speaks poniards, and every word stabs: if her breath were as terrible as her terminations, there were no living near her; she would infect to the North Star."

Utilising her best misty expression, Luna said pensively, "Benedick is using hyperbole to distract others from his real feelings. He states how he would go to the ends of the earth, rather than spend any more time with Beatrice, to cover his hurt over her scornful opinion."

Ginny appeared to seriously reflect on Luna's opinion about the scene. The professor called on several other students for input and then moved on to another part.

After class, Blaise waited for the class to empty before saying, "Had me worried for a minute there...thought you might tip her off with your 'covering his hurt and real feelings' spiel."

Luna sighed. "It had to be done. Subtlety may work for our Benedick, but our Beatrice needs a kick in the arse to get the same effect."

"When I know the (gentlewoman), I'll tell (her) what you say."

"Go right ahead." Luna was unruffled. "I'll return the favour with Malfoy."

Grimacing at the thought, Blaise gathered her things, nodded her goodbye, while Luna patted the Omnioculars in her pocket, and looked forward to watching the show at dinner.

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Draco ran his fingers through the pale hair Pansy and Millicent were currently mooning over before looking with studied casualness over at a specific Gryffindor. She was wrapped up in whatever Potty was saying.

Probably telling her how he's going to win the House Cup, defeat You-Know-Who, and bring peace to all magical creatures this year.

"You're not hungry, Draco?"

"What gave you that idea, Pansy...the untouched food on my plate?" He tried to sneer, but it was a half-hearted stab. Prodding the simpletons around him wasn't worth the effort tonight. He was getting as morose as old Snape.

Draco covertly checked to see what Ginny was up to now. She was looking back at him sombrely. Maybe she regretted calling him a boring prat. She should. The minute Blaise showed her face, he was going to give that Weaselette harpy a reason to stare if he could work up to it. Right now, even breathing felt like a chore.

Noticing the heads turning excitedly, Draco sat up straighter and started to smile in anticipation. His friend had just made her entrance, and taunting the littlest Weasel no longer felt like work. It would be his pleasure.

Blaise looked amazing. She had taken in her robes somehow, so they clung in a way that showed off her long, toned body. Her bold red lipstick really played up Latin lips. Silver hoop earrings swayed against dark curls, and the entire package was beyond girly. Blaise Zabini was hot.

Standing in honour of the goddess before him, Draco gallantly brought her hand to his lips with only the slightest of smirks. A chorus of envious sighs echoed through the Hall. Blaise winked at him and gave him a shallow curtsey in return before sliding onto her seat.

He hoped that Ginny was eating her heart out. Blaise was being a mate to go along with his plan, and he intended to make it as much fun for her as it was going to be for him. Studying her up close, Draco leant in to examine her earrings. Startled, he laughed. "Merlin, Blaise, your hoops are snakes!"

"Goblin silver, from before the last rebellion. You like?"

He rubbed his finger over the serpent earring closest to him. "Emeralds for eyes...I like." Tracing a delicate ear, he said silkily, "I like everything I see." He blew in her ear, causing her to shiver and laugh. He saw Blaise's gaze flicker to a certain table.

She smirked and turned back, lowering her face to peer teasingly up at him. "Ginny may have brown eyes, but they sure look green to me."

Laughing, Draco proceeded to push the limits of public displays of affection while eating a new dinner with voracious appetite.

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At the start of dinner, Ginny pretended interest in Harry's play-by-play description of the last Quidditch game while whispering to Colin out of the side of her mouth, "Is he still glaring over here?"

Colin looked sideways at the Slytherin table. "If you're referring to the Prince of Snakes, no, he's glaring at Parkinson now."

Heaving a sigh of relief, Ginny pushed her hair back and looked glumly at her friend.

As usual, he was quick to ask, "Are you all right, Ginny?"

"I'm fine. Malfoy just gives me the creeps."

Colin was unusually silent, and Ginny hoped he would remain that way. She wasn't up to explaining what was going on between Malfoy and herself. She didn't understand it, so how could she explain it?

Even Muggle Studies class was bewildering today. It brought up issues she didn't want to think about. Was she supposed to believe Draco Malfoy had actual feelings that could be hurt—that he was trying to impress her? What had he meant by he'd 'never forget it either'? Had the cold-hearted snake regretted his actions?

Ginny looked across at Draco's serious expression, feeling even more confused.

A groundswell of murmuring snagged her attention. Ginny glanced sideways to see Ron and Harry craning their necks for a better view of whoever was entering the Hall. Ron, blunt as ever, said, "Merlin, Zabini really looks like a girl now...Ouch!" He broke off to rub his sore head.

"I'm sorry. Did I accidentally hit you with Hogwarts—A History?" Hermione gestured to the large book with an exaggerated look of remorse.

Ron got the point and said defensively, "I was only saying Zabini looks like a girl now that she's wearing makeup and jewellery and robes that show she's actually got—OW! Keep that book away from me!"

"Too bad you have to learn everything the hard way, Ron," Harry said laughingly. The sheepish redhead was using two hands to rub his abused head. The boys went back to watching Blaise Zabini glide over to the Slytherin table. Ginny watched too. She didn't want to see what happened, but she couldn't look away.

"I wonder where she found those earrings. They look like Goblin silver."

Ginny distantly heard Hermione's observation. Draco had just stood up and kissed the girl's hand. Inwardly, she sighed along with every other silly twit in the Hall.

She had a clear view of the Slytherin couple. He was using those clever fingers to trace her earrings. Blaise jumped and laughed when he blew in her ear. Across the distance, the girl's eyes locked on her own. Ginny knew she'd be having nightmares about that knowing smirk.

Oh Merlin...I can't watch Malfoy crawl all over her. Why are the teachers allowing this? Snape wouldn't object if the Slytherins swept off the dishes and went at it on the table, but why doesn't Dumbledore do anything?

Ginny shook with emotion. The biggest shock of all was the casual attitude everyone around her was showing toward the disgusting display.

The boys were looking like they envied Malfoy his sophisticated assurance and polished moves. Hermione was staring wistfully, as if she wanted Ron to learn some of Draco's techniques and use them on her.

No one was outraged and affronted like she was. Were they blind? Was the Slytherin couple not stepping over the line to anyone except her?

The thought that she was the only person who wanted someone to break them up and never allow Draco and Blaise to sit near each other again was intolerable. The abrupt departure of Terry Boot from the Ravenclaw table should have made Ginny feel better. Someone else could not stand looking at the nauseating duo either.

Luna's artless words came back to her. If Blaise was trying to get Terry's attention, she had it. He looked sick with jealousy. A sudden thought slammed into Ginny. She reeled from the impact.

Do I look sick with jealousy too?

Ginny forced herself to stay seated until students started to depart. Counterfeiting a lame excuse about studying, she left without drawing the notice of the boy who would be starring again in her nightmares.