It had been a long week of potion brewing, and Ginny was starting to feel the strain. The project with Draco had been going surprisingly well, with the two of them falling into a steady rhythm of working together. They weren't friends, exactly- there was still too much unspoken tension between them for that- but they had developed an understanding. They didn't snap at each other as much, and every now and then, Ginny even caught Draco offering a helpful suggestion rather than a sarcastic jab.

Ginny focused on measuring out the next ingredient, her hands steady despite the quiet tension that always seemed to hover between them. Draco, now leaning over the cauldron, stirred in silence- his usual sharp remarks absent as they worked. The task in front of them, though tedious, was a welcome distraction from everything else swirling in Ginny's mind.

"Next step," Ginny said, her voice steadier than she felt. "We need the murtlap essence."

Draco handed it to her without comment. For a moment, there was a kind of unspoken rhythm between them, as if they'd fallen into sync after weeks of working together. But even as she added the murtlap, Ginny's thoughts strayed back to the countless confrontations- Ron's anger, Harry's lectures. Everyone seemed to have an opinion about her life, and it was getting exhausting.

She watched absentmindedly as Draco stirred the potion, her mind buzzing with frustration. Before she could stop herself, she blurted out, "Why do they care so much?"

Draco glanced up from the cauldron. "Who?"

"Ron, Harry. They act like my life is their problem," she said, her voice sharper than she intended.

Draco gave a half-smirk, leaning against the table. "It's not about your life. It's about me."

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"They're not upset because you drunkenly ended up in someone's bed," Draco said, his voice calm but pointed. "It's because it was my bed. If it had been some random Hufflepuff, you'd have gotten one lecture and that would be it. But the fact that it's me? That's what's really making them lose their minds."

Ginny blinked, taken aback by his frankness. "You think that's what it is? Just because it's you?"

Draco's smirk widened. "Think about it. They've always hated me. And now they have to live with the fact that I've been with you. They don't see you as needing protection from anyone- just me. They can't handle it."

Ginny huffed. "They act like it's the end of the world."

"Well," Draco said, his tone softening just a bit, "to them, it probably feels like it. I've crossed a line they never thought I could. In their minds, I'm the worst person you could've ended up with, and the fact that I've been with you- that's what kills them."

Ginny paused, looking up at Draco, realizing there was a truth in his words she hadn't fully considered. "I guess I never thought of it that way."

Draco's expression stayed neutral, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of something deeper. "Trust me, Weasley. I've known them long enough to understand what gets under their skin."

The silence stretched between them again, but this time, it wasn't uncomfortable. Ginny could feel the weight of what Draco was saying. It wasn't just about what had happened between them- it was about what it represented to Ron and Harry.

"They're going to have to get over it," she said, her voice firmer.

Draco smirked again. "Good luck with that."


That evening in the Great Hall, the usual noise of chatter and laughter filling the space as students gathered for dinner. Ginny was seated with her housemates, pushing food around her plate, her mind elsewhere.

As she absentmindedly picked at her food, she noticed a few Slytherins from the other end of the hall whispering and casting glances her way. Blaise Zabini and Theo Nott were smirking, their eyes flicking between her and Draco, who was sitting further down at the Slytherin table.

Theo Nott stood up from his seat, striding over toward Ginny's table with a swagger that set her teeth on edge. He was clearly enjoying himself, a sly grin on his face as he stopped just beside her.

"Weasley," Theo drawled, loud enough to catch the attention of those nearby. "Heard some interesting things about you recently." He leaned down slightly, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "Malfoy, huh? Guess you've got a taste for Slytherins now. If you're looking for another go, I could show you an even better time."

His smirk widened as his eyes lingered on her. "What do you say, Weasley? Fancy some fun?"

Ginny's cheeks flushed instantly, the sudden attention making her stomach tighten with anger. She glanced up at him, her eyes blazing. "Shove off, Nott."

But Theo didn't budge, his grin widening, eyes gleaming with arrogance. "Oh, come on, Weasley, no need to get all worked up. You and Malfoy? Everyone's talking about it." He leaned in closer, voice dripping with smugness. "How about you and I give it a go? Then you can tell me who's better in bed. I'd like to go next before you get worn out by all the other blokes."

Just as Ginny was about to retort, a shadow loomed over them. Draco had appeared behind Theo, his expression cold. The nearby chatter quieted as more students noticed the confrontation.

"That's enough, Nott," Draco said in a low, dangerous voice, his eyes narrowed at his fellow Slytherin. "Get lost."

Theo's grin faltered, but he chuckled, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Didn't know you were so protective, Malfoy." He shot a final smirk at Ginny before sauntering back to his table.

She looked up at Draco, her heart pounding with adrenaline from the confrontation. "What the hell was that about?" she asked, her voice sharp, though not as harsh as she intended.

Draco shrugged, his tone calm but edged with frustration. "He was out of line."

Ginny stood, facing him directly, her eyes still blazing. "I can handle myself."

Draco's gaze met hers, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something- an understanding. "I know," he said quietly. "But you shouldn't have to."

Ginny blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. It wasn't what she expected from Draco Malfoy, especially not in a public setting like this. The way he had stepped in so quickly and decisively surprised her.

Draco glanced back at Theo, who was now laughing with his friends in the corner. "Unbelievable," Draco muttered under his breath, shaking his head, as if the whole situation had irritated him just as much as it had her.

Ginny wasn't sure what to say. There was something different about the way he had come to her defense.

"Thanks," she said finally, her voice quieter now, the tension easing.

Draco gave her a curt nod, his expression unreadable. "Don't mention it."

Just as Draco turned and walked back to his table, Ginny felt the unmistakable presence of her brother and Harry rushing into the Great Hall. Both of them looked flushed from hurrying, their eyes scanning the room until they landed on her.

"Ginny!" Ron barked, making a beeline toward her. "What's going on? What did Malfoy want?"

Harry followed, eyes narrowing as he glanced over at Draco's retreating figure. "We saw him talking to you," he said, his voice low with suspicion. "What was that about?"

Ginny sighed, already tired of the looming confrontation. "He was just...dealing with Nott. Nothing happened."

Ron wasn't convinced. "Dealing with what? Why was he even near you?"

"Because Theo was being a prick!" Ginny snapped, her frustration bubbling over. "And Malfoy stepped in before it got worse. Happy now?"

Ron looked dumbfounded. "Wait- Malfoy? Defending you?"

Harry's brow furrowed, clearly not liking any of this. "Since when does Malfoy get involved in anything like that?"

Ginny folded her arms, her tone sharp. "Since it's none of your business."

Ron sputtered. "Of course it's our business!"

Ginny rolled her eyes, glancing toward Draco, who had returned to his seat, his back turned to the entire scene. "You two show up late and start grilling me, but if you'd been here on time, you'd have seen it for yourselves."

Harry glanced between her and Draco, suspicion still written across his face. "I don't like it."

Ginny groaned, throwing her hands up. "Just let it go, alright? I can handle myself."

Ron looked ready to argue again, but Hermione's voice cut through the tension as she appeared beside them. "Come on, Ron, Harry," she said, shooting them both a pointed look. "Give her some space."

Ron hesitated, still looking between Ginny and Draco, but Hermione practically dragged him away, leaving Ginny standing there, relieved that, for now, the grilling was over.

As Ron was pulled along, Ginny caught one last look at Draco from across the hall. She wasn't sure what was happening, but it felt like things had just shifted.