Chapter 7:

Ginny sprawled on her back amid the colourful leaves that littered the ground beside the lake, feeling the cool breeze across her cheeks. She grinned to herself. Having gotten out of Quidditch practice earlier than she thought, Ginny was waiting for Padma.

It was October, and the weather was definitely turning. Ginny loved the fall… the colours, the cooler air, Quidditch… there was very few things she disliked about this time of year.

There was also the matter of Blaise and Draco. She felt so close to him… and yet they were still a mystery to her. That sometimes bugged her, as she was naturally nosy, but she kept Draco's words in mind, and had the hopeful thought that perhaps her ability to not pry meant that she was growing up a little.

Blaise… he was so outgoing, friends with almost everyone he met, fun, charismatic, and yet Ginny was sure she had only seen him sleep maybe a few hours in the last three weeks.

Each time, he had woken up, arms over his head, shaking, crying, and mumbling under his breath. Draco was the only one who seemed to be able to calm him down, and Blaise had freaked out the one time Ginny had touched him when he was like that. Draco had told her not to take it personally, but it still rested heavily on her thoughts.

Draco was almost the complete opposite. Sarcastic and arrogant, he demanded respect, and he seemed very cold to people that didn't know him well. He had his own issues, and Ginny was sure they had to do with his father from some of the things Blaise had said.

They were so close to each other, that she was almost jealous of their bond. Grinning at the thought, she played with her hair, idly picking a leaf out of her hair, and watched a cloud that looked suspiciously like a bunny race across the sky.

"Hey Ginny." Padma's soft voice called to her, and Ginny flipped over to look at her.

"Padma… how was your day?"

Throwing herself down beside Ginny, Padma rested her head on the small of Ginny's back and stared at the cloud that looked like a bunny, "Your boyfriend, Zabini, is driving me crazy."

"What did he do?" Ginny put her hand over her mouth to try to hold in the laughter. It seemed like Blaise got a lot of amusement from getting under Padma's skin in any was possible.

Brushing her long dark hair out of her eyes, Padma sighed in irritation, "He decided, it would be fun to make a first year Hufflepuff Head Boy for the day. Complete with the power to deduct points and give detention."

"Can he do that?" Ginny asked, confused.

"Apparently, he can." Padma snorted, "He then proceeded to point the little boy in Draco's direction, and point out the fact that Draco was being disrespectful to other teachers."

"Oh gods…"

"That was pretty much my reaction, yes. I managed to get there before he tried to 'discipline' Draco, but it was close. Almost had to scrape Hufflepuff off the hallway." Padma rubbed her temples, feeling the onslaught of a certain type of headache she affectionately referred to as 'Zabini' or, 'that horrible git in Slytherin who refused to let her have a happy existence'

"What was his excuse?" Padma's eyes narrowed at Ginny's strangely muffled voice, and she turned her head sharply to the side to see her hand clasped tightly over her mouth, shoulders shaking.

Narrowing her eyes, Padma responded, "He said, and I quote, 'I feel that an important aspect of the role of Head Boy is to provide leadership training to the younger years. And I thought it would be funny.'"

That did it, Ginny could no longer hold in her laughter. Tears running down her face, she glanced back at Padma who was pointedly staring at the sky again, her laughter doubled.

Waiting for Ginny to calm down, Padma wondered viciously how long it would take her to kill the Head Boy. She was sure there was something in the Hogwarts charter that allowed her to do so.

Ginny wiped the moisture off her face, and relaxed in comfortable silence with the dark-haired girl.

"Have you heard from Ron yet?" Padma asked quietly, some time later. She knew that Ginny was worried about her older brother.

Shoulders slumping, Ginny played with the chipping nailpolish on her thumb, "Nope. I haven't heard from any of them since the beginning of September."

"Oh." Well, so much for that, "I'm sure they're fine. I mean, it seems like you –know-who's kind of gone into retirement at this point. I haven't heard of any Deatheater action since… well… May."

"Here's hoping." Ginny thought back on that letter from Harry, and felt on a twinge of worry for a long-time friend. When he had left… it was like something had broken within her. And the way he had left… well, he could have done it in a much better way.

Looking back, she was honestly disappointed in Harry's actions. He had known, and hadn't told her and well… she was disappointed.

"Ginny, have you seen those scars on Blaise's wrists?" Padma asked suddenly, remembering that she had spotted them during one of his lengthy explanations.

Ginny looked over at Padma with raised eyebrows, "Yes, but I know that he generally uses a glamour charm. How did you see them?"

Padma grinned, "Glamour charms don't usually work with me."

"Huh. See, now, that's something I didn't know." Ginny pondered that for a moment, before shrugging.

"What are they from?"

"Honestly, I don't know. Draco and Blaise are very touchy about talking about them. I feel a little strange talking about it."

"Do you think they're… you know… self-inflicted?" Padma asked, concern edging her voice from what she had seen.

"Nope." Ginny responded immediately, "They're not… well, I've seen cutting before, but these look like rope burns that the twins have from various pranks. Plus, Blaise is not like that."

"Ah."

"I just don't know why magic wouldn't have taken the scars though."

"Well, a few magical ropes won't allow you too… those are pretty Dark though, and I know that any rope can be cursed in the same way. It's actually not that unheard of." Padma shuddered, thinking about it.

"So…." Ginny tried to desperately think of how to turn the subject. She felt like she was betraying Blaise and Draco's confidence just by talking about this, "What are you doing for the Halloween weekend?"

"Not quite sure yet. It's still a few weeks off."

"I know, but the twins owled me yesterday, asking me to meet them in Hogsmeade. It rather made me nervous."

"As well it should. What are they doing in Hogsmeade? I thought their shop was in Diagon."

"Your guess is as good as mine. I try not to think too hard about what they're up too." Padma chuckled at Ginny's resigned tone, and patted her shoulder in compassion. "There there."

It was there that Draco and Pansy wandered upon the two girls, talking and laughing in the leaves a few hours later.

"Hi." Ginny smiled up at Draco tenderly, before grinning over at Pansy, "Hey Pansy."

"Gin." He bent over to kiss the top of her head, before nodding at Padma. Her response was to scowl at him.

Pansy sat down beside Ginny's head, as Padma ranted about Blaise's actions again to a completely unsympathetic Draco, who just shook his head, "Padma, he isn't going to change. This was actually rather tame for him. Ignore him. That'll piss him off more than anything."

Looking crafty, Padma pondered that course of action. Ginny giggled as she could almost feel Padma thinking.

Draco lounged next to Pansy, and pushed Ginny's hair off her brow behind her ear as she grinned impishly up at him.

Pansy watched with interest as Ginny and Draco interacted silently. She had never really seen Draco caring for someone outside of her and Blaise like that before. It was mildly disconcerting… and wonderful, all at once. She hadn't really thought he was capable of it.

As Padma and Pansy got into a heated discussion about their N.E.W.T. level Herbology, Ginny took hold of Draco's pale hand, stroking the skin over his knuckles, watching the veins just below the skin.

"Where's Blaise?" She asked quietly. Draco thought for a moment, concentrating, before answering, "Library, working on his Potions assignment."

Ginny nodded. Draco and Blaise had some kind of connection, they were linked, that she couldn't quite figure out. It was rather helpful though, especially in this kind of situation.

--

The second Hogsmeade visit just happened to be on the Halloween weekend, and Ginny shivered as the cool air played against her skin, despite the warmth of the sun overhead. She tucked her hands into her pockets, and looked in the window of Zonkos, which had recently re-opened.

Despite the fact that they had owled her to meet them here, they were late… again. Frowning, she turned to look down the street, straining to catch sight of the two familiar redheads.

Ginny frowned. She had left two very sexy and warm males to come and stand here in the cold, and honestly, she really didn't think the twins would make it worth her while.

Almost moaning aloud, she remembered how Blaise and Draco had tried to get her to stay in bed with them, instead of rushing off so early. And now, the twins were late. She really had no luck.

"Gin!" A voice called out, and she turned to see George weaving his way through a crowd of third years that were huddled near the corner, Fred on his heels.

Holding up her hand in greeting, Ginny scowled and waited for them to make their way over.

"Ginny my dear!" Fred caught her up in a big hug, which Ginny reluctantly returned, glad to see them for all her raging hormones, and remembering how Draco had looked fully naked, a thin sheet just hanging onto one hip, and Blaise stretching, his abs looking delicious.

George ruffled her hair, and they grinned wickedly at her, "Glad to see us?"

"Sure." She smiled despite herself, "Now, why did I have to be down here for nine? I do have some semblance of a life, you know."

"Yeah, we know." Fred looked at her out of the corner of his eyes, "A little birdy told us that you've been spending an awful lot of time in the Slytherin common room. Any comments?"

Ginny smiled coyly, and twirled a lock of her hair around a finger innocently, "Do I look like the sort to kiss and tell? And the common room? That's rather kinky."

Fred and George looked at each other for a moment, before snickering loudly. Ginny grinned at them, and then asked more seriously, "Again, why did I have to meet you two? What are you doing in Hogsmeade? Who's running the shop?"

"Well, we finally hired a competent manager, Liam, who is looking after the shop by himself. It's actually really nice, we're not really cut out to spend all of our time in the shop. It's much more fun to develop new products." George explained with a look of glee.

"And we're here, because we've just bought Zonko's to make into the Hogsmeade branch of Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes." Fred finished, bowing slightly as she clapped in glee.

"Brilliant!" Ginny jumped up and down, and gave them both big hugs. "You're taking over the world one joke shop at a time!"

"Yes well, we talked to Ron about it last year-"

"But it didn't look like it would happen-"

"And yet, here we are." They stood outside of the shop, talking about the twin's ideas for renovating, until George noticed that Ginny's nose was matching her hair that was peeking out from under her violently pink hat. With that, they headed over to The Three Broomsticks.

Stomping in, Ginny sighed as the warmth from the fire hit her. It was a lot colder than she thought it would be at this time of year.

"Have you owled Mom recently?" Fred asked casually as they found a table near the back. Ginny noticed with an inward sigh the difference between how the three Weasleys were treated versus the two Slytherins she had come with the last time.

George finally held up a fistful of galleons, and hollered at the bartender before they got service.

"No, I haven't talked to her since the morning I left for school." Ginny replied to Fred's earlier question.

"Hmm…" George looked at her with a gleam in his eye.

"What? You make me nervous when you look at me like that."

"How much is the information about you and the Slytherins worth?" Fred leaned forward, a wicked smile curving his lips. Ginny glared at him, "What do you know?"

"Enough."

"Not good enough."

"We know that you've been spending most nights in Blaise Zabini's private room with him and Draco Malfoy… that you are rarely without one or the other, or both… Do we really need to know more?"

Ginny's eyes opened wide, "How do you guys know that? You don't even go to Hogwarts!"

"We have our sources."

Ginny narrowed her eyes, and then sighed in resignation, "Fine. Terms?"

--

Blaise looked up as Ginny stomped into his room. They had taught her the passwords and wards weeks ago, but it was still mildly strange to look up and see her. In a good way, of course.

"Hi Kitten." He grinned and motioned her over. Ginny smiled back, and allowed him to pull her down on his lap, cuddling close. "Mmm… I missed you."

Ginny looked up at him, "I was just here this morning. Why didn't you come down to Hogsmeade?"

"Potions. Slughorn is trying to kill me this year." Blaise sighed, and tightened his hold on her, kissing her temple gently, "How were your brother?"

Frowning, Ginny thought back on what they had discussed, "Devious."

"Excuse me?" He blinked, not quite sure he had heard right.

"Nefarious, cunning, scheming, conniving. Shall I go on?"

Blaise laughed, delightedly, "No, I think I have the concept. What did they do?"

"I'm not allowed to tell." Ginny frowned again at the terms of their agreement.

"Not even me?"

"Not even you."

"Not even Draco?"

"Not even Draco."

"I have two galleons that you'll spill to Draco by the end of the week." Blaise knew first-hand how difficult it was to keep a secret from him.

"I'll take your bet. And your money."

Blaise laughed, and leaned his forehead against her thick hair, breathing in the faint scent of vanilla, cinnamon, and Ginny.

"Did you finish the potions stuff?"

"Nope. Hopefully tomorrow, but it's Halloween tonight."

"So?"

"Well, the feast is tonight."

"It's not that big a deal."

"Plus, I'm going trick 'or' treating."

It was Ginny's turn to blink, and ask, "Excuse me?"

"Trick 'or' treating." He patiently repeated.

"Yes, I heard you, I just don't understand you."

"It's a muggle thing. You dress up, and go door to door for candy."

"Why don't you just ask the house elves to bring you candy? You do it for everything else." Ginny looked up at him, utter confusion across her face.

"It's more fun this way."

"Sounds like a lot more work."

"Where's your inner child?"

Ginny stretched against him languidly, making sure to move against his crotch, "You really want to ask me that?"

Blaise groaned and grabbed her hips, "Ok, bad question."

Satisfied, Ginny leaned into him again, mentally shaking her head over the craziness that Blaise seemed to thrive in.

Later that evening, Draco sat in the Slytherin common room, watching expressionlessly as Blaise knocked on the first year's doors with an outstretched pillow case, waiting for candies. He had dressed himself in all black with muggle devil horns, and was running around yelling trick 'or' treat.

Shaking his head, Draco looked down at Ginny who was curled up next to him on the wide couch, her Transfigurations text clutched in her hands, reading intently. She didn't seem to even notice what Blaise was doing.

Knowing from past experience how long it would last, Draco sank down against her and started reading over her shoulder just to bug her. Sure enough… "Do you mind?"

"Not at all." He leaned forward to turn the page, and then removed his hand before she could hit it.

Suddenly, Blaise popped out of the hallway, and threw himself on the couch, knocking Ginny over. "Hey!"

"Look how much candy I got!"

Draco stared at him for a long minute, "I don't care." He enunciated carefully.

"Well, now I'm not sharing any with you." Blaise eagerly checked out his stash again, seemingly forgetting that he had been the one to give the candy to the first years in the first place to give back to him. "What do you think, Room of Requirement party?"

Ginny dropped her book to jump up, "Awesome! I have to go let Lavender and the Patils know… when?"

"About an hour." Blaise checked the clock, "And make everyone wear costumes!"

"I am not wearing a costume." Draco stated quietly.

Blaise glared at him with navy eyes, before turning back to Ginny, "Ok, well, make sure the girls are wearing something really skimpy then."

The Room of Requirement had become packed with sixth and seventh years from the houses, and Ginny was dancing wildly with Lavender when she glanced over to see Parvati and Seamus engaged in some mildly inappropriate activities. Laughing, she turned Lavender to see.

"Why, that naughty girl!" Lavender laughed, slinging her arms around Ginny to dance even closer. Ginny giggled, and looked around to spot Blaise dancing with an uncomfortable-looking Padma, and Draco being oh-so-cool leaning against the wall with a smirk, and a bottle of firewhiskey.

Skipping over to Draco, Ginny grabbed the bottle before he could stop her, and took a large gulp. Laughing, he grabbed her around the waist to pull her close, taking back his bottle.

"Why aren't you dancing?" Ginny asked, face flushed.

Tracing his fingers through her hair, he leaned down to whisper in her ear, "It's much more fun to watch you."

"What a line!" Ginny shoved him away, laughing. Draco shrugged, his silver eyes dancing, as he finished off the bottle.

Watching as he wavered a little where he stood, Ginny pulled him over to a large couch, and they collapsed together to watch Blaise trying to grind up against Padma, with little success. Thankfully, though, she was laughing at his attempts.

Draco ran his hand down Ginny's back which was exposed by the lack of fabric in her shirt. "You're beautiful, love."

Knowing how affectionate Draco got when drunk, Ginny leaned against him with pleasure.

"You know, I haven't seen Blaise this happy in a long time." Draco kissed the side of her mouth lightly, watching his friend and lover laugh, and follow Padma as she tried to leave the dance floor.

"Really? He seems like he should always be happy." She answered quietly.

"Oh gods… you've never met his mother." Draco shuddered with true distaste, and moved his lips to her neck, flicking his tongue over the pulse there.

"Draco…"

"Red…"

"Did Blaise make those scars himself?" Draco tensed at the question, and then asked quietly, "Is that what you think?"

"No. But the alternative… Well…" She played with his fingers absent-mindedly.

"No." He all but whispered, "No, he didn't do that to himself."

"Will it happen again?" She looked up at him, her blue eyes worried.

Hugging her close, Draco drew a ragged breath, "Not if I can help it."

Ginny nodded, watching Blaise laugh at something Dean said, his head back, joy on his face. Not if she could help it either. She squeezed Draco's hand, and smiled when she felt him squeeze back.

Waking up the next morning in Blaise's bed, Ginny moaned as all she had had to drink came back to haunt her.

Blaise was nowhere to be seen, but Draco was sleeping deeply at her side, and she knew he wouldn't wake up for hours if left alone. He seemed to sleep more than anyone she had ever met. And she had lived with six brothers, so that was impressive.

Hearing the water running, she looked over at the open door to see Blaise rubbing the cold water over his face, rooting through the drawer for his hang-over potion.

Looking in the mirror, Blaise traced the circles under his eyes with his fingertips with a sigh. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept, and his various potions were the only things keeping him going at this point. Grabbing his wand from beside the sink, he cast his glamour charms to hide the circles, as well as his scars with a grimace.

It was a nervous habit for him to trace the scars, but he hated seeing them. They always reminded him of his own helplessness.

Finishing his morning rituals, he looked into his bedroom to see Ginny's blue eyes watching him, still hazy with sleep. Smiling at her, he grabbed the hang-over potion, and walked to her side.

"Thank you." She murmured as she took a deep chug. Instantly, her head felt better. Much better. Ginny reached up to hold Blaise's neck, giving him a kiss. He smiled against her lips.

"Did you sleep at all?" She asked quietly, not letting go. He shook his head, before sucking her bottom lip between his teeth. Even though she knew it was one of his ways to distract, she couldn't help herself as he pushed her back on the bed.

A/N: I had no idea that people would assume that Blaise was cutting. That really took me by surprise, so I decided to write it into this chapter. See? I do read and appreciate reviews! I love them! Please enjoy, and tell me what you think.

Oooh, I also got asked by JulieMalfoyZabini (awesome reviewer) if I had even a thought of a sequel in mind… and yes, I've got one planned. But this story isn't even halfway done, so don't worry just yet.