Nothing belongs to me.
XVIII: Red
It was common knowledge that the third year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws had Charms together after lunch on Wednesdays. So it was only natural that Ginny, Colin, and Luna would walk there together.
It was also well known fact that fourth year Slytherins made their way, too, to the third floor for class.
There was no reason as to suggest that these groups did not interact. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
One probably would not count glaring into a general direction and looking sour, though, as interaction, but there were handfuls of fourth years that had made it a living to torment the underclassmen.
Namely, one Draco Malfoy.
He and his cronies, Scab and Boil, always left lunch early on Wednesdays. They would wait on the upper landings where they would apprehend their chosen victim(s).
Ginny Weasley had done such a good job ignoring them each week that she didn't need Luna and Colin to hold her back every time he had a go at her family.
"Some things in life are just not worth it." Luna had always said.
But it would be different this Wednesday.
The trio had been ascending the last staircase when one of Malfoy's jeers floated down to them.
"Oi! Orange!"
Ginny glanced up to see his sneering face perched at the top of the flight of stops.
"How's the weather down there with the Mudbloods?" Malfoy nodded at Colin.
There were noises of outrage all around them at his last words.
Without thinking, Ginny tore up the stairs, halting just inches from the boy.
"No, Ginny, no!"
It seemed the throng of students proceeding to class had frozen to watch the exchange that followed.
"Weasley."
She didn't love the emphasis.
"Tell me, Malfoy." Ginny snarled, placing her hand on her hips with a look of pure fury, not unlike her mother's. "Does my hair look orange to you?"
He didn't speak, his eyes grazing the blood red halo blazing around her head.
It was gorgeous, yes; they both knew it. The same, however, could not be said about her brothers.
For the first (but certainly not last) time in her life, Ginny Weasley rendered Draco Malfoy speechless.
"If you're going to insult me, Malfoy, the very least you could do is learn your colors."
And on that note, Ginny stalked off to class, Colin and Luna hurrying in her wake.