Ginny had paced in front of the fire, Merlin knows how many times, before she finally heard voices from the next room and a hesitant knock came from the door closest to her. Hermione's head peered around.
"I just wanted to check you're okay," she mumbled softly, a small smile splayed across her features. Ginny jumped from her seat, grabbed Hermione's wrist and pulled her into a hug.
"I'm so sorry, what I said... I wasn't- I wasn't thinking at all. You aren't screwed up. If you could handle that... Well, you're stronger than me." Ginny felt the brunette shake her head against her shoulder.
"No, you really are Hermione! I never noticed anything last year, no body did!" Hermione pulled back, her eyes wet and smiled at Ginny.
"Shush now. Let's not talk about it, okay?" Ginny nodded slowly as Hermione pushed back the hair softly from her face. Before Ginny could actually attempt to think of something to change the subject she was saved of the job, when both Harry and Ron entered carrying an assortment of sandwiches and pastries.
"We gor breakfas'd," grumbled Ron, mouth full with a sandwich which he proceeded to grunt down. "I was starving," he stated before reaching towards another sandwich. Harry and Hermione leaned to each grab a pastry.
"Want some?" Harry smiled and passed Ginny a bacon sandwich. The sight of it made Ginny's stomach churn.
"No, thanks. I'm not very hungry." She glanced around the room. "You forgot drinks, I'll go get some-"
"No!" Harry and Hermione both glanced at each other, embarrassed at their outbursts.
"It's okay, I don't mind," chuckled Ginny.
"No, its okay, I'll go, sit." Harry demanded.
"I'm not a dog," She snapped as her temper began to rise. "Why can't I go?" Another awkward glance between the three of them. "Hello?"
"Relax Gin. We just-" Hermione struggled for her words for a moment. "We just want to make sure... You're okay, when you're out there. I mean- Well- What if you bump into him?"
"I already did once." Ginny squared her shoulders. "And okay, I broke down a bit. But I'll be fine. What were you planning on doing? Not letting me leave for the rest of the Christmas holidays?"
"If I thought I could, I would," Harry looked her straight in the eyes as he spoke. "If I could I wouldn't let him get anywhere near you. Either of you" He glanced at Hermione in his last statement.
"Well... as nice as that is Harry, you can't. I'm not some little girl who needs looking after. And neither is Hermione. I don't need to be wrapped in cotton wool. If we see him, we see him. I'll deal with it. No one is in the Gryffindor tower anyway, everyone left after the Yule Ball. If something happens, I can brake down there. But I can assure you, I won't need to."
Harry face remained impassive as he shrugged, but Ginny was sure she could see a glimmer of admiration in his eyes.
"You're much stronger than me, you know?" Hermione's murmur disrupted Ginny's thoughts as they made their way back to Gryffindor tower. The boys each stood in front of the girls, almost shielding them a few paces ahead, this irritated Ginny but she allowed it to pass.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Ginny murmured back equally as quiet.
"They treat you..."
"Like a child? Breakable? Vulnerable? Defenceless? Delicate? Fragile-"
"Yes. All of those," Hermione cut her off. "Because, as pathetic as it sounds that's how I was after this. Like a child. Fragile... I was weak." Hermione's voice crumbled slightly. This concession was obviously difficult for Hermione to admit. "I crashed, and they tried their best to fix me."
"You were not weak, Hermione. Don't ever let me here you say that." Ginny stated fiercely. Hermione was so strong, Ginny could not comprehend having something that atrocious happen to her every night and never being able to do anything about because another person she loved would die. Just as she was about to tell Hermione this, she walked fully into someone's back.
"Hey, what are you-" but she was interrupted.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A mudblood, some blood traitors and a scar head."
Ginny was rooted to the spot, so firmly someone might have thought she had been put under a spell. Malfoy glanced over Harry, Ron and Hermione before his gaze finally came to rest upon Ginny. His smirk petrified Ginny, but she made sure to square her shoulders slightly, so as not to let on to him how terrified she actually was. Malfoy smirk became more pronounced as he lifted one finger, pointed it at Ginny and then curled it towards himself.
Before Ginny could even make the decision to move towards him, Harry's arm shot out from his side, grabbed Ginny around the middle of her torso and pulled her until she was hidden behind him.
"Leave her be, Malfoy," he growled. "She's been through enough."
Malfoy's smirk vanished immediately. He shook his head as Crabbe and Goyle made to move towards them. Instead he made eye contact with Ginny over Harry's shoulder. "Come here... Now," he whispered dangerously.
Ginny pried Harry's fingers away from her ribs and moved around him with difficulty. As she headed towards the Slytherin she glanced back quickly and saw the uncomfortable expressions plain over everyone's face, before she had a chance to reassure any of them she was yanked forward by her hair.
"Next time, you listen straight away," Malfoy fist tightened at the base of her head. "Understand?"
Ginny nodded painfully. He released her hair only to grab a hold of her shoulders and straighten her before him.
"At eight this evening, you'll be in the room where we have previously... spent our fun in," His smile had returned. "Won't you?"
When she didn't respond Malfoy pinched her face in his hand, until she had no choice other to look him in the eye. He shook her head so she nodded.
"That's what I thought. Because we all know what happens when we don't listen to me, don't we, Granger?" Malfoy's eyes left Ginny's face to look behind her. She couldn't imagine how Hermione must look at the moment, but the glee in Malfoy's face broke her heart. "How's papa? Oh, wait-"
SLAP.
Ginny had pulled herself away from Malfoy's hand and slapped him full force across his face. If the pain in her hand was anything to go by, she guessed it had had to hurt.
"Yes. I'll be there at eight." Stated Ginny firmly. She watched as Malfoy wiped some blood from the inside of his mouth.
"Oh, you fool, girl," he chuckled before parting his arms to allow her to walk past. "Guess you'll pay for that later then."
"You're fucking idiot," Ron shook his head. "How could you be so stupid, Ginny?"
Wait, what? Ginny had come away from that thinking she finally had one up on Malfoy. If that was the case then, why did Harry and Ron look so infuriated?
Gryffindor common room was empty. The only people they knew who had decided to stay for the holidays were Fred and George, and one young first year girl. None of them were insight, so the boys obviously felt free to yell as loudly as they wished, especially after Hermione had put a silencing spell on the room.
"I don't understand why-"
"Yeah, you're right, you don't understand!" interrupted Harry. "You don't understand what he's capable of! You can't push him like that, Ginny!"
"He killed Hermione's dad, don't you understand?!" Ron piped up.
"Leave, guys." Hermione's voice sounded so small after Ron and Harry's loud pitches. "I need to talk to her."
Hermione had barely looked at her since she walked in, in fact Ginny was sure she hadn't glimpsed at her once. Harry and Ron glanced her way.
It was times like this she wondered how she had never noticed something going on last year. The three of them were so close. They could have entire conversations with just a few looks cast between them. If you paid enough attention it was easy to notice something pushed them together to the place they are now.
"Fine," huffed Ron.
Himself and Harry marched towards the boys staircase without a backwards glance.
"Can you believe those two? Malfoy needed taking down a peg, you understand-" Ginny started.
"Be quiet, Ginny." Hermione interrupted. "I can't... listen any more."
Ginny turned to her friend, confused. Although the brunette often became flustered, she never tended to snap at you, especially whilst sounding so defeated.
"Right, forget what just happened. We need to talk about what is going to happen tonight."
Author notes; Sorry! I've been away. Anyway, just a quick note, for anyone who thinks Malfoy is going to be a nice character in this at all, please – leave NOW! Because he is the ultimate villain in this fanfiction. I finally got something out followers!
Please review! Again, anything you want! Much love.
