An Unpleasant Surprise

Ginny and her friends all stared after Blaise for quite a long while before Madison cleared her throat and asked, still not moving:

"What just happened?"

Neville shook his head slowly.

"I have no idea..." he mumbled and Luna added:

"That was a most curious thing of Blaise Zabini to do"

Madison turned to look at Ginny who still hadn't said a word.

"What did he mean 'I tried to warn you'?" she asked. "Have you talked to him before? Ginny!"

She shook Ginny's shoulder gently and the latter finally turned to look at her friend, her voice weak as she said:

"What?"

Madison rolled her eyes slightly.

"Blaise Zabini. Have you ever talked to him before? Do you two know each other or something?"

Ginny shook her head.

"No..." she mumbled. "I mean, we've talked a couple of times but..."

"Why would you do that?" Neville interrupted her, sounding really upset. "He's Draco Malfoy's best friend, for all we know he could be a death eater Ginny!"

"If he was a death eater I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have saved Ginny's life" Luna pointed out and Neville fell silent, apparently not too keen on showing her that he didn't fully agree.

"So you're not friends?" Madison asked again and Ginny sighed tiredly.

"No we're not friends, he's made it quite clear that he doesn't want to be"

"You mean you would be his friend if he asked you to?" Neville asked and Ginny interrupted him:

"No! I mean I don't know, but... Look, let's just forget about this and..."

"Forget about it?!" Madison exclaimed, eyes widening. "Are you serious? Zabini was right Ginny, you would be dead right now if he hadn't showed up..."

"Well he did" Ginny replied shortly.

And I have absolutely no idea why...

"So there's nothing more to talk about"

She avoided her friends' curious gazes but she could still see how Neville and Madison looked at each other, both seeming quite skeptical.

"Can I just ask you one more thing?" Madison asked carefully and before Ginny had even opened her mouth she added:

"If you're not friends and if he doesn't want to be... Why would he do what he just did?"

"I don't know!" Ginny said, shrugging impatiently.

She hoped that she managed to look quite unbothered but on the inside she felt... excited and frightened and confused at the same time.

Blaise Zabini just saved my life. And I called him a hypocrite, considered him a coward...

She needed to think about all this, take it all in. Alone.

"I can write back to Bill later" she said. "Let's go have dinner"

She thought that, hopefully, this would take her friends' minds off what had just happened.

How do you make a time line haha

"Maybe he likes you"

Madison's words brought Ginny back to reality. She'd been sitting in the same position in one of the armchairs in the Gryffindor common room for at least half an hour, staring into the crackling fire. Ever since Blaise had saved her from being hit by Pansy's curse a couple of hours earlier she hadn't been able to think clearly.

She couldn't stop wondering what would have happened if Blaise hadn't showed up, if the fire had actually hit her... She would probably be dead, that was for sure.

She turned to glare at Madison.

"Of course he doesn't" she snapped and her friend raised her eyebrows challengingly.

"Then why are you blushing?"

"I'M NOT!"

Madison opened her mouth, as if she wanted to oppose, but then closed it again. Ginny turned back to the fire, watching the flames moving. It was quite relaxing, but it didn't stop the questions from entering her head.

Why did he do it? To save Pansy from expulsion? Possibly. And still...

"He saved your life"

This time, Madison didn't look at her. She, too, rested her gaze on the fire while absentmindedly stroking her cat who sat on her lap.

Ginny swallowed.

"I know"

After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence Madison sighed slightly and stood up. She and Ginny were the only ones left in the common room and she yawned, apparently thinking about heading upstairs.

"Well, maybe there's more to him than I first thought" she said, shrugging. "I'm going to bed, are you coming?"

"Yeah soon..." Ginny mumbled.

There was definitely more to Blaise Zabini than Ginny herself had first thought. She'd never considered him anything but Draco Malfoy's friend; a self-absorbed prat who thought that muggleborns and "bloodtraitors" weren't worth any of his attention.

But considering today's events, she might need to replace that image.

How do you make a time line haha

During the next couple of days one specific thought never seemed to leave Ginny alone; should she thank Blaise for what he'd done? That certainly seemed like the right thing to do, and yet he'd asked her to stay away...

That was another thing that didn't make sense. If he wanted them to go back to pretending like the other one didn't exist, then why did he save her life?

However, there were two things that helped Ginny keep her mind off the night in the corridor with the slytherins. She was so happy and relieved to know that Ron was safe, alive and well that it was hard for her to keep the smile off her face even during the Carrows' lessons. She'd sent a reply to Bill the day after she'd received his letter but she didn't ask what the fight between Ron, Harry and Hermione had been about. She figured that Bill probably wouldn't know, and even if he did Ron was most likely to force him into not telling her...

Something else that occupied Ginny's thoughts, but wasn't as pleasant to think about, was Dean. She'd, somehow, managed to avoid him ever since he'd asked if she wanted to go with him to Hogsmeade on Valentine's day. During lunch one day Ginny had stayed hidden behind Neville the entire time just so she wouldn't have to face Dean and after around twenty minutes she could tell that she was getting on her friend's nerves.

"You can't avoid him forever!" Madison had exclaimed. "Just go talk to him and tell him how you feel!"

Of course Ginny knew that Madison was right; this stupid hiding couldn't go on forever. However, this wouldn't have been a problem if only she'd known what to say to Dean. She felt pathetic; it wasn't like her to be afraid of saying no to someone who wanted a date with her.

But this was Dean and she still cared for him. She didn't want to hurt him and he'd probably end up asking her who she'd be taking instead... And that was the real problem. Ginny still didn't know who to take, and as the fourteenth of February drew closer her panic increased.

By Thursday night, two days before the trip to Hogsmeade would take place, Madison seemed to have had enough and practically forced Ginny out of the common room.

"You go talk to him now Ginny Weasley!" she said angrily. "And make sure you have another date before turning him down!"

"All right, all right..." Ginny muttered, exiting through the portrait hole. "But it's entirely your fault if I make a fool of myself"

It didn't take her too long to find Dean. Being a seventh year prefect, now that Ron and Hermione were gone, he was patrolling the corridors. Thankfully, he was alone.

"Dean!" Ginny called, hating how her voice broke simply because she was nervous.

He turned around, smiling as he spotted her.

"Hi Ginny!" he said. "I've been meaning to talk to you..."

"I know" she intrrupted him and as she saw his confused gaze she added:

"I mean, uh... I reckon you have since I've been looking for you too"

"You have?"

He looked so happy... Ginny swallowed and took a deep breath before saying:

"Yeah... Listen, Dean... We... I don't think it's a good idea for us to go to Hogsmeade together"

There. She'd done it.

"Oh" Dean said, the smile vanishing from his lips instantly. "Why not?"

"Because I..."

She couldn't do this.

"Because I'm not going" Ginny finished, feeling furious with herself for not being able to tell him the truth. "I'm not feeling well"

Dean furrowed.

"But it's two days away..."

"I know but I figured I might need some rest. Valentine's day is not exactly my favorite day of the year, anyway"

Ginny forced out a laugh that sounded both strangled and false, and she felt sick. She hated lying, but what was her other option? Telling him the truth?

Sorry Dean, we can't go to Hogsmeade together because I think you're in love with me and since I'm not interested in you I reckon it would only make things really awkward!

Saying that wasn't really an option at all.

Dean looked down, hands in his pockets.

"Okay then" he mumbled, sighing slightly. "Hope you'll feel better soon"

"Yeah..." Ginny said, feeling like a huge stone had lifted from her chest now that it was over. "Yeah, thank you"

Then, Dean gave her a quick wave before he left her, continuing his night patrolling.

How do you make a time line haha

"How did it go?" Madison asked as soon as she spotted Ginny entering through the portrait hole and the latter grimaced.

"I'd rather not talk about it"

"That bad?" Neville asked and Ginny sat down in an armchair, groaning as she covered her face in her hands.

"I feel like a complete idiot! I still haven't found a date for that stupid Hogsmeade trip so I couldn't tell him that I'd take somebody else because then he'd probably ask me who!"

"Then what did you say?" Madison asked curiously.

"I said that I wasn't feeling well and that I needed to rest..." Ginny started and as her friends both opened their mouths she added:

"And no, I don't need to hear exactly how bad that lie was. And did I mention that I'd like to hex you for forcing me to accompany you to Hogsmeade?"

She added the last part while glaring at Madison who grinned widely.

"It's not really my problem that you promised me in the first place" she said. "Besides, you know that Marwin and I don't know each other very well and I need you there!"

"Are you sure about that, considering the fact that I don't have a date?" Ginny asked, feeling the panic grab ahold of her again.

This really was Slughorn's christmas party all over again...

Before Madison had time to say anything she muttered:

"I need some air. I'll see you both later"

How do you make a time line haha

Ginny glanced at her watch while walking through the empty corridors. It was getting late, almost eleven o' clock, and even though she didn't need to be back in the common room before half past eleven she felt a bit nervous. She'd heard rumours of students who had followed the rules but had been punished simply because the Carrows (or some really sadistic and evil Slytherin students) were bored.

For the first time in days Ginny welcomed the thoughts concerning Blaise, simply because it would take her mind off the fact that she needed to find a date in less than 48 hours. She thought of what Madison had said a couple of nights earlier:

He saved your life.

She sighed deeply. He did. Whatever the reasons behind it were, he'd saved her. And she'd never be able to let this go before she'd had a proper chance to thank him, whether he liked it or not.

And it wasn't like she planned to make a huge deal out of it and hold a thank you-party for him in the Gryffindor common room or something. No, it was all about saying "Thank you for what you did" and that'd be it.

It shouldn't be that hard, right? Might as well get it over with as soon as possible...

Soon, Ginny found herself approaching the library. In case it was open at this hour (as far as she knew that all depended on how early Madame Pince decided to go to bed) it wasn't impossible for Blaise to be in there. In fact, that was the place where she'd talked to him twice and for some reason he seemed like the type who stayed up late...

Before reaching for the door handle Ginny took a deep breath. In case he was in here, she would do it. Even if he was with his friends, she'd grab the courage to approach him and ask if she could speak to him alone for a minute or two. Despite everything that had happened, she still couldn't bring herself to feel afraid of Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass.

This was it.

But right as she was about to open the door she heard a voice coming from inside, and it was the mention of her surname that caught her attention:

"Are you still angry about the Weasley thing? Look, I know Pansy was reckless but you saved her from expulsion so everything's fine..."

Ginny froze. It was Daphne who was speaking and it was also obvious what she was talking about and who she was talking to...

Blaise.

She silently wished that she'd had one of Fred and George's Extandeble Ears becase it was quite hard to make out everything they said. She heard Daphne's voice again:

"Well what else could it possibly be about? I think Snape would have been able to cover it up if they'd decided to press any legal charges. After all, who would take a witness like Loony Lovegood seriously?"

Ginny absentmindedly clenched her fists. She shouldn't listen to this. What was the point of hearing Daphne say mean things about her friends? It'd only get her in a bad mood... Still, she was too curious about Blaise's answer to leave. If he said that he wasn't angry simply because Pansy could have risked expulsion, than what was he really angry about?

She leaned even closer to the door.

Blaise's point of view

Blaise sighed tiredly and grabbed another couple of books from the bookshelf in front of him.

"Remind me again why I have to help you with this?" he asked shortly, finding it hard to keep the frustration out of his voice.

He and Daphne had spent the past twenty minutes in the school library looking through several dozens of books to find the one she was looking for. Blaise hadn't exactly signed up for this voluntarily but Daphne's constant begging had eventually caused him to give in to her wishes. However, he could think of at least ten other places he'd rather be at right now.

He had a lot of homework to take care of and he knew he was close to failing both Potions and Charms. He also felt like he needed to talk to Draco; his friend had seemed quite moody during the last couple of days and he hardly spoke at all unless spoken to. Blaise knew he could scarcely imagine what Draco had seen and been through, but he reckoned things wouldn't get better just because his friend refused to talk about it.

And whether Blaise wanted to admit it or not, he knew he should also write to his mother. She hadn't heard from him since before christmas when he'd told her that he'd be staying with the Malfoys...

"You're helping me because you're such a great friend and because I'll be in real trouble if I don't find this book by tomorrow" Daphne interrupted his thoughts. "I borrowed it from Tracey without permission and then I lost it. If she doesn't get a copy of it back sooon..."

"There's nothing called 'borrowing without permission'" Blaise interrupted her. "That's stealing"

Daphne stopped going through a book and turned to look at him. She raised her eyebrows and snorted slightly.

"Whatever you say mr Good"

Blaise rolled his eyes and got back to work. The sooner they found that stupid book the sooner he'd be out of here...

Why couldn't he just have said no to this in the first place?

"You could have Pansy or Millicent help you..." he muttered.

Daphne left the table where she was examining the books that Blaise had picked down from the bookshelf. She approached him slowly, smiling.

"Well, I needed someone strong... " she started, her voice low and seducive. "Someone with real muscles..."

She put her hand on his arm but out of pure instinct Blaise backed a few steps. Daphne sighed, looking both annoyed and disappointed.

"Are you still angry about the Weasley thing? Look, I know Pansy was reckless but you saved her from expulsion so everything's fine..."

"You think that's all it's about?" Blaise asked sharply, glaring down at her.

He wished to tell her that he couldn't possibly care less about whether Pansy was expelled or not. If she was, she'd deserve it...

Daphne still looked confused.

"Well what else could it possibly be about?" she asked. "I think Snape would have been able to cover it up if they'd decided to press any legal charges. After all, who would take a witness like Loony Lovegood seriously?"

She snorted and as Blaise didn't say anything she stepped even closer to him. Unfortunately, he was now standing so close to the bookshelf that it was impossible for him to move any further away from her. Daphne slowly put her hand on his cheek and whispered:

"I really like you, you know..."

Yeah, she'd made that pretty clear ever since he was stupid enough to ask her to Slughorn's christmas party...

Before Blaise had time to say something, or think of a good way to escape the whole situation, Daphne had pressed her lips against his.

Ginny's point of view

"I really like you, you know..."

Daphne's voice, and the words she used, made Ginny feel sick. And for some reason, she also felt annoyed. When was Daphne going to get that if Blaise had been interested in her he would have told her so a long time ago?

What do you know about that? a little voice whispered inside her head and Ginny hated to admit that it was right. She didn't know anything about that, but she still felt quite sure.

Blaise wouldn't want to be with Daphne. He wouldn't say "I like you" back. He wouldn't kiss her...

Right?

Without really thinking about what she did, Ginny silently pulled the door open as curiosity got the best of her. And what she saw made her heart stop. They kissed, and from what Ginny could tell Blaise didn't seem to offer much resistance.

Why did it hurt so badly?

She managed to close the door again, silently so they wouldn't hear her. And then she ran.

Blaise's point of view

For a second Blaise just stood there, unable to move. Then, as Daphne put her hand in his hair he pulled away quickly.

This was wrong.

"No" he said firmly, grabbing her arms and slowly pushing them back to her sides. "Stop it"

Daphne looked down. Whether she was embarrassed or just frustrated Blaise couldn't tell.

"Is there... is there someone else?" she asked finally, looking almost afraid when she met his gaze.

Blaise looked away from her, clenching his jaw. He'd known Daphne for over six years; if he looked straight into her eyes while answering that question she'd probably be able to tell that he was lying...

But why would he have to lie?

There was no one else, was there? No he told himself sharply. There was no one else. Daphne just wasn't his type, and that was the only reason why he didn't want to kiss her.

"Who is she?"

Her words brought him back to reality. He pressed his lips together and then took a deep breath before locking his gaze with hers.

"No one" he said, his voice hard. "There is no one else"

How do you make a time line haha

After a while, Ginny stopped running and started walking very fast instead. Her heart was still pounding like crazy, but she couldn't tell whether it was because of what she'd just witnessed or because she'd ran through half the school like a lunatic.

She hated Daphne, and she hated him even more. But why? Why did she care who he kissed? She didn't. She did. She didn't.

She obviously did.

Ginny groaned angrily to herself. She'd never before in her life met a person who confused her the way Blaise Zabini did, and she absolutely hated it...

She was so occupied and upset by her thoughts that she didn't notice that someone was approaching her from the other end of the hallway, until that very moment when she walked right into him. There was a loud thump and Ginny looked up quickly, mumbling:

"Sorry, I didn't see y..."

But as she saw the person's face she drifted off. It was Lucas McLaggen, and he looked down at her as if she was someone he pitied. Someone less worthy than himself.

"It's quite all right, Ginny" he said, sounding bored.

One would think that normal people would apologize in return, was it really just her fault that they'd walked right into each other? But then again, one could hardly expect more from someone like him... Lucas McLaggen was so in love with himself that Ginny was sure even the slytherins despised him...

She froze momentarily. This gave her an idea...

"You've been crying"

Lucas' statement interrupted her thoughts and Ginny's eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh..."

She hadn't even noticed. She hastily wiped her cheeks and then asked bluntly:

"Do you have a date for Valentine's day Lucas?"

She spotted the surprised look on his face before it was replaced with something she recognized as smugness.

"No, not yet. I've silently been wishing for a special person to summon up the courage and ask me. Why?"

Oh god, did she really have to ask him? Why could he just ask her? This was beyond humiliating and if Hermione would see her now...

Well, Hermione isn't here. None of them is.

"I was wondering if... if maybe you wanted to go with me" Ginny said, forcing herself to smile at him. "To Hogsmeade I mean"

"I'd like that"

She looked up at him in surprise. For some reason, she'd almost expected him to turn her down...

"Great! I'll... I'll see you then!"

"You will"

And then, after having placed a quite wet and clumsy kiss on her cheek, Lucas left. Ginny felt like screaming out of joy. Not because she would now be going to Hogsmeade with a person who would most likely get on her nerves after only ten minutes, but because she was going with the one person who would probably annoy Blaise Zabini the most.

She knew it was stupid, silly and even pathetic. But right now, it didn't matter. Right now, this meant victory.

Author's note: I recently found out, when re-reading the Deathly Hallows, that Ginny was actually banned from all trips to Hogsmeade after she'd tried to steal the sword. I guess Snape simply was a bit nicer in this version :)