A/N: Just wanted to say thanks to Nutmeg44 for agreeing to dish about my plans with me and help me discuss a few details for later on in the story. Also for reviewing. For proof that reviews are the best fuel a girl can run on: I wrote two whole chapters today. One of them was even before 11pm. Pretty impressive, no? So I have up through chapter 11 waiting in the wings!

And if you want a preview, or want to chat about the upcoming story, feel free to review or PM me and we can fangirl/fanboy out over it. I've been averaging out over 124 views a day since I posted! (over 189 views per day the last three days!) Glad to be drawing your attention! Hope you enjoy! ;D


Chapter 6: Stacked Problems (aka Stacked on Stacks on Stacks)

Ginny only heard the voice as it was trailing off, and she peeled the jumper from her head, looking toward the dark-haired boy. He was staring at her. Or, more specifically, he was staring at her—

"Oh fucking Merlin-" Ginny hurriedly turned around, feeling her face practically glowing. Fuck. Fucking bugger. Buggering fucking bollocks. She scrambled to pull the shirt of her uniform down over the lacy pink thing, and almost considered putting her jumper back on, but she knew that would come off as overkill (besides which, if she'd been hot a minute ago, she'd be sweltering in it now that she was blushing like a madwoman).

She couldn't bear to face them. It was probably the most mortified she'd been in her life. And- oh, fuck, Malfoy had seen! She closed her eyes tight, pained. How could she possibly – no, no, it would be okay. She had more credibility. She could say they were lying. Given what he usually said about her family, that wouldn't be too hard to believe. …But still.

There was the sound of someone clearing their throat, and Ginny detected an underlying current of amusement.

She turned slowly, trying to act casual but well aware of how stilted her movements currently were.

The black-haired boy she recognized as Blaise Zabini, though when she racked her memory for dirt on him she didn't find much – mostly a lot of 'who's sleeping with who' gossip and some stories of outrageous parties; not much on the dark or mean side, although she had a feeling he was gifted with a clever tongue (and while she also had a feeling different people meant different things by that, she suspected most implied he was on the manipulative side).

"Oh…" Ginny didn't exactly have much of a choice. She managed an awkwardly self-deprecating smile and focused her attention on the black-haired Zabini instead of Malfoy. She could be friendly enough to him. "Hello." She spoke with a crooked smile, leaning one arm against the desk. Her eyelids fluttered shut in a long blink, berating herself. This was absolutely absurd.

When she opened her eyes again, Zabini was raising an eyebrow, looking highly entertained, and she thought she might've heard a slight chuckle.

The idea that he might be laughing with her opposed to at her (a very conscious decision for the interpretation on her part) helped her focus her thoughts toward how this was actually quite a funny story. "I didn't see you there," she joked awkwardly, shaking her head at her own lame humor, but holding back a laugh anyway. She would work this to her advantage. She tried to think of this as though it had happened near Fred and George. They knew how to get her to laugh it off.

"I can tell," Zabini was smirking as he replied wryly, but it didn't hold the same sort of pretentiousness that Malfoy's look often did – he came across as more cocky and flirtatious, less elitist. Maybe the dark hair and warm coloring just made him more relatable, opposed to Malfoy's icy sharpness.

"Really?" Ginny asked in an overtly cheery manner that made her sarcasm clear while not being biting.

Zabini grinned and nodded with her same 'oh, imagine that!' attitude.

For a moment they were both smiling at each other, and Ginny actually felt incredibly relieved and grateful to him for going along with it. It was hard to imagine, being grateful to a Slytherin, but he'd actually managed to make her feel more at ease. That didn't last long.

"Draco, are you going to introduce me to this gorgeous delinquent?"

Ginny's smile faltered. Of course. Now that Malfoy was back in the equation, it was hard to remain chipper. Especially as Zabini's words had Malfoy's previously mildly irked expression turning to one of glee. Like an inverse reaction, Ginny felt less and less confident the more confidence Malfoy seemed to gain.

"Gorgeous?" He snorted, "Apparently any pair of breasts impresses you, Zabini – even those pathetic things." Of course he had to insult her. Any opportunity he got. Ginny just rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest before she realized that her body language had given away her discomfort. "That-" Malfoy's point moved up and down her body, "Is the littlest-"

Ginny, defiantly, stepped forward, holding a hand out with a determined confidence, "Ginny We-!" She yelped in surprise as her foot caught on one of the short stacks, sending her toppling forward. For a moment she thought she might actually catch herself, as her foot found purchase again, but then that, too, slipped, and she was falling again.

If only life had been a storybook romance, she may have ended up in the arms of the handsome Slytherin (and by that, Ginny most definitely referred to Zabini – Malfoy, while most would call him handsome, couldn't be described with any such word in Ginny's book). Unfortunately, it was not. So she ended up sprawled unevenly over the stacks of books that littered the path between her and the dark-haired boy.