It was an explosive first fight.
They hadn't really talked since his band of bullies busted up the DA, and Ginny had hobbled into the empty classroom on the fourth floor on freshly mended ankles.
"What in Salazar's name were you thinking?" Draco rounded on her as soon as she entered.
She stood her ground as he advanced. She could see the nerve in his jaw jumping, his eyes ablaze.
"I was protecting my friends," Ginny hissed, returning his fierce gaze. The chocolate brown of her eyes boiled and melted into the emerald green, the color morphing into something else entirely. His steel silver ones burned harshly back.
In that moment, Draco did the one thing that took her off guard. He kissed her. Hard and passionate. His lips were unforgiving as they crashed against hers.
Ginny let herself have that kiss. She was mad as hell, and so was he. She wanted to strangle him, but she knew to treat each kiss like it would be their last.
Waves of rage washed through her. Ginny pushed him away, and after he'd gotten his bearings, his eyes snapping back into focus, she slapped his perfect face.
"How dare you," she spat through gritted teeth. "You chose the easy way out. You are following these crazed men even though you're smarter than that, because you don't want to bother with the hardship of standing up for yourself!"
Draco's nostrils flared. "Easy!" he snapped back, clenching and unclenching his fists. "The Dark Lord lives in my bloody house. He's tortured my family and me on countless occasions. I stay for them, Ginny, and you know that. You of all people should understand how important family is."
Gritting her teeth, Ginny accepted his words, knowing they were the truth after everything they'd been through together. "My family doesn't kill, rape, and pillage for fun."
"They raised me Ginny, I love them. I would do anything for them!"
"I love you!" Ginny screamed back, and a window behind her shattered. They both flinched at the unexpected bout of magic.
Draco watched, stunned silent, as she exploded in front of him. He stood, paralyzed, as she turned on her heel and left, slamming the door behind her.
He seethed, feeling his rage and magic coiling around every one of his nerve endings.
After their first fight, he felt like a firework waiting to explode.
It surprised Ginny the first time she couldn't make an excuse for Draco.
Harry had been going on for ages about how the Slytherin must be a Death Eater. He was up to something.
And Ginny couldn't deny it.
When she saw him that first night of the term in the Great Hall, Ginny knew something had changed, that something was wrong.
It had taken her two weeks to shove the sleeve of his robe up, to force him to admit it to her. She'd known, of course. She'd always known it was coming.
She listened silently as Harry went on at breakfast. She didn't say anything as Hermione launched into all the reasons Harry was overreacting.
Ginny would let them sort it out on their own.
But hearing Harry say it made it all the more real for the fifth year. She knew their time was running out — fast. If it wasn't already over.
Draco had officially chosen a side, and whatever Voldemort had tasked him to do would undoubtedly hurt Harry's cause, would actively help a madman.
Her father had nearly died. That madman had nearly killed her.
It was inexcusable.
Ginny sat frozen and silent as this realization engulfed her, filled her up.
There was no coming back from this choice in her eyes, and the first time she drew that line felt like a bludger to the chest.