A/N: Continued gratitude to Nutmeg44, for being an unofficial beta and plot runner. We've topped 1000 views! Yay! Now let's see if we can get those comments going! Perhaps a bite of Italian will wet those taste buds? ;D *muwahahha*


Chapter 7: Better Red Than Read

About all Ginny wanted just now was a time turner, so she might somehow undo the past hour. Or, better yet, the whole day. If only she hadn't gotten herself here in the first place… On the plus side, her horror had helped even out her skin tone, washing out her embarrassed red to a more shocked pink.

At the sound of a small chuckle, she looked up, warily. From her position, splayed out over several uncomfortably dissimilar stacks of books, she could see Zabini's amused smirk as he offered her a hand. She looked at it, eyeing him suspiciously, as she struggled to pull herself up enough to see without slipping even more on the precariously piled tomes.

He laughed at the obvious suspicion on her face, and crouched in front of her. "Calm down, Red, I'm just offering to help you up."

Ginny could totally see why Zabini was viewed as a sweet talker. His cocky smile and jovial attitude - not to mention his not unpleasant demeanor, or those sparkling golden hazel eyes – yeah, she could see how he'd ended up gossiped about romantically. He was attractive, there wasn't any denying that.

Malfoy's crossing his arms over his chest and rolling his eyes drew Ginny's attention back to the blonde. Also physically attractive, but he just wasn't as well liked. He'd had his fair share of girlfriends, she was sure, but they were usually Slytherins with the occasional Ravenclaw, whereas Zabini seemed universally lusted after. …Not that Ginny was lusting after him.

She narrowed her eyes, suspiciously, but took his hand, allowing him to help hoist her to her feet.

Too late, she realized that may not have been the best idea.

At first, he had helpfully steadied her, but once she was nearly on her feet, he tugged just enough for her to stumble toward him. Just enough for him to catch her as she stumbled, wrapping an arm around her waist, and one of hers around him, to 'keep her from falling again' as he directed her stumble right into his firm chest.

She looked up at him skeptically, to find his face eerily close and looking quite smug.

Oh, he was good. Manipulative couldn't begin to describe it.

"Thanks," her tone was wry as she shot him a look that was amused but not fooled.

Malfoy scoffed, and she hurriedly pulled away from Zabini's grasp, reminded of just where she was. The black-haired boy seemed to let her go reluctantly, but he did let her go. Truth be told, she was starting to think she wouldn't have minded staying in his hold a bit longer. Not that she ever really idolized the 'damsel in distress' role of a delicate dame in need of protection, but she had to admit Zabini made a good lean-to. All those toned muscles… she could definitely objectify that.

She returned the appreciative once-over he'd given her just a moment ago as she stepped away, tossing her hair over her shoulder and popping out a hip. Attitude? Oh, no, this was just how she always stood. She smirked at him briefly, well aware that her eyes shared his sharp gleam.

"Careful, Blaise, you may need to burn those clothes – she's a Weasley." While Malfoy's words were sent with his trademark obnoxious sneer, all three in the room knew he didn't mean it seriously.

Zabini sent her a look that made her instinctively want to snicker; "I'll only burn these if she helps me take them off first," he smirked, dismissing his friend's opinion.

Ginny had to admit, despite the dogged persistence of the dark-haired boy's flirting, his genial attitude had him growing on her. "No such luck, Zabini," she turned him down firmly, but bit her lip slightly, very tempted to flirt back. He was good looking, that was for sure, and not unpleasant. Besides; he was a Slytherin, so she was 99% sure nothing would ever come of it. But she'd had some… she didn't really want to think about her most recent experiences around the opposite sex; they had her very conflicted. In any case, she wasn't about to get involved with anyone recklessly. Even if they were gorgeous.

As Zabini raised his eyebrows, his golden eyes flicking to her lips, Ginny glanced away, realizing that perhaps now was not the best time. Her gaze fell on Malfoy, who looked even less amused.

"Blaise, the Weasel here has a detention to finish," Malfoy's voice had a touch of bitter annoyance in it as he gave his friend a withering look. "So if you're done fraternizing with blood traitors…"

The black-haired boy rolled his eyes at Ginny, making it clear that he found his friend's opinions childish, and began to make his way out of the room, gently maneuvering her out of his way with a hand on her wrist. "Well, Red, I'll be taking my leave," he murmured, nodding to her again, and to Malfoy, as he left.

She was pretty sure she'd never considered her wrist to have quite so many nerve endings before.


A/N: So now our favorite black-haired boy is in the mix. And chapters 8-13 have all been completed. Including my favorite so far (12) and a start on the one I'm sure to love just as much (14). Reviews will be responded to with love and adoration and can earn you sneak peeks into upcoming chapters! Chapters should be posted once a night while I'm on this writing streak, but I like to run ideas by people when I'm proud of them.

Thanks everyone who's reading, and hope you continue to enjoy!

-Turner