Envy and Manipulations: Rewrite 36

by rrabbit

Sixteen year old Ginny Weasley has her first summer job at the Folk Hills Country Club, the most prestigious high society club in the wizarding world. When Draco Malfoy comes home from his summer internship at the Ministry of Magic things get complicated, dark, and twisted. Rewrite.

2. Chapter 2

"Do I look okay?" I ask as I pat down my hair.

I let Luna curl it before we left and I'm a little self-conscious about it. Luna has a way of making simple things look ridiculous.

"You look fine," she says before trying to smooth out the wrinkles on her yellow blouse. It's made out of an odd crinkly material that makes strange noises every time she moves. "Do I look alright?"

I spare her a little glance. The blouse she was so proud of is a little weird… It's a mustard yellow color with large white polka dots on it and very puffy sleeves… but she's making it work.

"You always look nice," I admit and she shakes her head with a small smile on her face, clearly not believing me. "We don't have to go," I tell her as we stand outside, ready to apparate with the ticket in my hand. "We could just stay in and eat pizza or something."

All my gumption seems to have left me when faced with the real possibility of seeing Parkinson and her friends. I thought I learned my lesson about believing seemingly nice Slytherins. I have a bad feeling in my stomach now… an odd sense that I can't seem to shake.

"You said that Pansy was nice to you," she says and I nod my head. I guess that's what she was. "Maybe she's not as bad as she seems. We should at least give her the benefit of the doubt, right?"

"I'm just a little nervous," I admit out loud and Luna squeezes my arm.

"If we get there and have a bad feeling about it… we'll just leave, alright?"

"Do you remember the code word?" I ask and she nods her head.

"Whiplash," she answers, smiling because she thought of the name. "If you want to leave, just say that word and we're gone."

Luna has always been braver than I am in the sense that she is always completely herself. It gave her a steely shield of protection from others. Solid in her skin- she wore what she wanted, she said what she wanted, and she did what she wanted. That wasn't me. I crumbled easily. Easy to tears and easy to have my feelings hurt. I was always too aware of what people thought of me and it bothered me more than it should have. I tried to hide it… I always tried to be braver than I felt… but I couldn't fake it as well as Luna.

I nod my head and she holds onto my arm as I apparate us to the Yellow Springs address.

We land facing a tree covered hill, the sky dark and full of twinkling stars. My heart is beating so incredibly fast and I grab Luna's hand for courage as we turn around.

She gasps. Or was that me?

"Oh my," Luna says as we stare at the house that's lit up with modern torches flickering in the night.

It's a large Tudor style mansion with white stucco walls and dark wood trim on top of a brick foundation. It looked like something from a fairy tale… if the princess from a fairytale had more money than one person could ever need in this life. It sits alone by the shore line- the great lake at its back glittering in the pale moonlight.

Oh my, indeed.

"I didn't think people actually lived like this," she whispers.

I look at the gate, a stone path lined with rose bushes in full bloom circles in front of the house.

"This is just her summer home," I point out.

Luna and I share a look.

We don't move for a little while. Neither of us say much of anything as we look over the house that is so grand and so beautiful. The windows are tall and narrow and there are arches on either side that make it kind of look like a stable. I can't imagine living in a house like this… I bet all the furniture is nice- not at all warped or broken…. and the walls aren't peeling in the corners.

"Now or never," I whisper nervously.

I look down at the ward code and walk up to the entrance gate. I hand the ticket to Luna once I put in the password and then we walk hand and hand through the shimmering magic wall. The house looks even more beautiful beyond the barrier and I'm sure it is a sight to see in the daylight. There were so many beautiful flowers in the garden- including two incredibly large bushes by the front door, full of blue and pink hydrangeas.

I admire them for a moment. They are my favorite flower. They make me think of my grandparents and I bend over to smell them before we walk up the stairs to the small porch. My mum has a few hydrangeas in our garden at home but they aren't nearly as grand and some years they hardly bloom at all. A lantern hangs down from the arched ceiling and I look up at it as it flickers in a warm golden glow. I glance at Luna. Her large eyes seem haunted and worried. She put on a lot of makeup before we left- blue shimmering eye shadow with matching rhinestones on her cheeks. She looks like a fairy.

She bites her lower lip for a moment before giving me a brave little smile.

"My stomach hurts," I whisper.

"Mine too," she admits.

I turn to knock on the large wooden door.

"Ginny," Luna whispers and I glance at her as she points to a decorative button on the door frame.

Oh.

I press it and hear the bell ringing inside. I run a hand over my hair once again and pray that I won't regret this. A thick man with a bushy black mustache answers the door. He sighs loudly when he sees us and he leans against the door frame, holding a martini glass in his right hand. He takes a sip as he looks at me and then to Luna who's blue eyeshadow sparkles.

"Hi," I say nervously.

He's middle aged, salt and pepper at the temples of his thick dark hair and he's wearing a linen shirt halfway unbuttoned down his hairy chest. He looks tan and unbothered.

"I take it you're here for Pansy?" he says, inhaling deeply through his nose like he was… annoyed? Is that what he is? I can't tell.

I nod my head and he takes another sip.

"Who are you again?" he squints his eyes at me like he was trying to place where he had seen me before. "I don't remember either of you."

For some reason I can't talk. I glance at Luna and she glances at me.

"I'm Luna," she says, taking the lead as she puts out her hand in greeting. He looks at it and then smacks his lips together.

"Right." He doesn't shake her hand and she drops it awkwardly at her side. "They're all down by the dock. Just walk around back and use the red gate."

He closes the door in our faces before we get to ask any more questions.

"He seems fun," I say and she snorts in laughter before we walk back down the stairs.

On the right side of the house is a red gate under one of the arches. I hesitate a second before opening it and walking down a set of stone stairs that curl towards the lake behind the house. I can hear music playing loudly from a radio and I smell a bonfire. I feel nervous… my stomach is doing weird things and I stop, grabbing Luna's wrist.

"Maybe we should go home," I whisper.

I look back at the house…I can see into one of the living rooms from the back window. There's artwork on the walls and a grand piano underneath a large glittering chandelier.… What would I even talk about with these people? This was a mistake… a stupid mistake that I dragged Luna to and I already regret it…

"Ginny?" I look down the stairs. "Is that you?" Pansy smiles as she approaches from the darkness wearing a gray Hogwarts sweatshirt and a pair of cut off shorts with the pockets hanging out from the bottom. She stops for a moment when she sees Luna and tilts her head. "You brought someone."

"Yeah, I hope you don't mind. This is my friend Luna." I introduce her and Luna holds out her hand to shake but, just like her father, Pansy eyes it coolly before plastering a fake smile on her face.

"Sorry, my hands are dirty. I've been down in the sand," she says, offering up an excuse as Luna slowly retracts her hand with a blush playing on her fair cheeks. "Is that all you brought?" she asks, nodding to my dress. I nod my head, crossing my arms uncomfortably with my purse heavy over my shoulder. "It gets chilly down by the water," she says, glancing at Luna and then focusing back on me. "I have extra blankets. Come on down. Just about everyone is here," she says as she makes a motion for us to follow her down the stairs.

"I didn't even think about it," I say, realizing the air is quite chilly tonight. "It's been so warm."

"It's alright," she says as she falls into step beside me, not giving Luna enough room to join us. I look over my shoulder and Luna gives me an encouraging smile.

"Your house is beautiful," I tell her, looking over my shoulder to see it glowing in the darkness.

"I know, right?" She smirks. She has her hair tied up in a ponytail and her ears have more than one piercing. The diamonds glitter in the moonlight and I'm now very aware of my own cheap plastic daisy earrings.

"Was that your father who answered the door for us?" Luna asks in her soft voice as we continue to walk down the stone steps.

The hill her house is on is steep, but I can see where everyone is now. The stairs give way to a small concrete platform and that platform has a set of stairs that leads down to a sandy shore line. A wooden dock reaches out into the water beside a good sized boat house.

"Yes, it was," she says, her tone clipped and annoyed. "He wasn't thrilled that I was having people over tonight, but I usually get my way in the end," she smiles at me and I give her an uncomfortable smile back.

"You have his nose," Luna says and I close my eyes at the gaffe as Pansy stops walking and turns around.

"What does that mean?"

I know her nose has to be a sensitive subject. She's beautiful, but her nose isn't a little dainty button. It slightly turns up at the end and is a little wider. I know that it's the first thing someone points out when they want to hurt her feelings. They yell about it over their shoulders as they run away and sneer at her in hushed whispers when she passes. Her nose was the only imperfect thing on her perfect body. I guess that's why I like it so much.

"She didn't mean anything bad," I say to rectify the situation because I can see Pansy's eyes narrow at the totally oblivious Luna. "She just meant that you look like your dad a little."

"Is that what you meant?" Pansy asks in that bitchy voice I'm so used to hearing from her. I swallow hard and give Luna a distressed look.

"Of course," Luna says with a confused tilt of her head. Pansy surveys her for a second before turning around.

"Come on, then," she states dryly and we follow her all the way down to the sandy beach, where a group of girls are sitting around a small fire on logs and lawn chairs, drinking out of plastic cups. "Okay, people!" Pansy says as we approach. Her disposition seems sunny and agreeable once again as she turns down the radio. "Time for introductions." She puts her hand on my arm and pulls me forward.

"Starting on the right," she says as she points to the girl with honey blonde hair and a pouty pink mouth. "This is Daphne. Beside her is Felicity. Sitting in the chair is Astoria…"

Astoria is in my grade as well. She's the blonde's little sister and they look so similar that they could be twins.

"You know Ivy," she says as she points to her own sister, whose black hair is tied up in a severe looking ponytail.

Her eyes take me in with icy indifference as she downs the contents of her plastic cup. I turn away from her and try not to make a face.

"Sandra, Alex, Melinda." She's just pointing at girls now. Girls that I barely remember seeing at school in the hallways. "Cho," she says, pointing to Cho Chang. I blush, not able to look her in the eyes because the last time I saw her I had caught her doing something gross with Malfoy in a closet. "And this is Millie," she says as she finishes with the girl sitting to my left.

My eyes widen when I realize who the thin and beautiful girl named Millie is. Millicent Bulstrode was always unfortunate looking, with mousy brown hair and large, square shoulders that made her look like an adult male quidditch player. She was bigger than most boys in the school by the time she was fourteen. Heavy set as well as tall,I always felt a little bit bad for her… but now… she most definitely had some cosmetic work done. Her jaw is more feminine. Her nose no longer has that haggish bump. She's still tall, but she's slim and her hair looks fuller somehow, richer and curlier. I know it's her, though. I can tell by her beady eyes. She's sneering at me now just like she sneered at me when she looked like a man.

"Ginny, this is everyone," Pansy says. "Everyone, this is Ginny." She glances at me and then at Luna. "And her friend," she adds dismissively and I send an apologetic look to Luna who merely shrugs her small shoulders. "Well, take a seat then. Daphne, move over so Ginny can sit beside you."

Daphne, with her honey blonde hair, scoots over on the log and pats the empty spot. I take the offered seat and she gives me a beautiful grin in return. Luna follows as well and scrunches in beside me and the girl introduced as Felicity. Felicity makes a face before getting off the log and moving to the other side by Millicent who hasn't stopped staring daggers at me.

"Do you want something to drink, Ginny?" Pansy asks as she walks over to a blue cooler in the sand and she takes out a yellow plastic cup from a package sitting on top of it. I look at Daphne as she holds up her cup and she tilts it to me so I can see inside.

"I like to mix mine with cranberry juice," she says.

I sniff it.

"Is it alcohol?" I ask, sounding a bit like a child. Pansy laughs a little and nods her head. I feel very uncool right now. "No, I'm okay."

"How about some lemonade, then?" she asks and I glance at Luna before nodding my head.

Lemonade is safe… lemonade is good.

She reaches into the cooler and pulls out two glass bottles. Unscrewing the lid, she hands one to me. "Here you go," she says and then she offers one to Luna. "And Laura too."

I take a sip from the lemonade. It doesn't taste just right… but I've never had fancy lemonade from a bottle, so I ignore it.

"Her name is Luna," I correct her and she nods her head.

"Of course," she says as she sits down on one of the vacant chairs. "Luna."

It is a bit cold out here in the dark, so I grab a blanket from the stack behind me and pull it around my shoulders, sharing it with Luna after she gives me an envious look. I smile at her as I fold the blanket around us, pressing my knees into hers and taking another sip.

"When are the boys coming?" Millicent asks in a huff after she decided she was done glaring at me. I start peeling the label off of my bottle just so I have something to do with my hands. "I'm getting bored."

Boys… does that mean like Zabini and Malfoy? Are those their boys? I shudder to think and I send a worried look to Luna.

"Millie, you slut," Pansy says and the girls giggle as she checks her watch. "I don't know when they're coming. It depends on the card game and how drunk they all get."

"I bet you're hoping Zabini will show up. Right?" Ivy says, eyeing her older sister. "Don't think I didn't hear you last night. You're lucky Dad didn't catch you."

Pansy shrugs her shoulders. "What can I say? He has magic fingers."

I make a face as the others laugh. This felt different from anything I've ever done before. None of my friends drank or were sexually active and I felt really… out of place.

"Are you dating Blaise Zabini?" I ask after taking another large drink from the odd tasting drink.

"Well, kind of in a way, I guess," she says with a delicate shrug as her sister smirks at her. "I mean… it's not official, but he makes it worth it- if you know what I mean."

I smile with the others.

"Yeah," I agree, even though I have no idea what she's talking about.

"How do you like working for people at the Hills, Weasley? Do you like being the help?" Millicent asks hatefully. I see Pansy shoot her a warning look as I take another drink and try not to rise to her bait. "Do you like it?" She softens the question.

"I don't mind it," I say with a shrug, trying to be as normal as possible. I roll the sticky label against my naked thigh, liking the distraction. "I like making my own money," I say. There are blank stares all across the board. I can feel their eyes on me so I clear my throat uncomfortably before taking another drink. "Do any of you have jobs or anything?" I ask softly as I glance around, finally settling on Daphne as she stares at me with wide, blue eyes. She's wearing a long sleeve top but it's cut so low in the front that her breasts are practically spilling out.

"I work for my dad sometimes," Pansy shrugs and Ivy laughs.

"You do not."

"I have a job," Daphne says after some deep thought and I give her a curious look as she nods her head.

"Beauty pageants do not count as work," her little sister says with an eye roll and I find myself hiding a smile.

"They do too!" she snaps as she sits forward so she can glare at Astoria. "I work hard and when I win- I get money and all that kind of stuff. So that counts as a job."

"I think that counts," I tell her and she smiles a wide, beautiful smile at me.

"See, Ginny thinks so," she says. I'm glad I said something right. Beside me, Luna is reading the label on her bottle of lemonade, and she nudges my shoulder. I ignore her when Pansy starts speaking to me again.

"So, what do you do with the money?" she asks seriously and I frown, remembering when Draco Malfoy asked me that same question. "Do you help pay for things at your house or something?"

I narrow my eyes because I think she's making fun of me and when she sees it- she shakes her head.

"I didn't say that to be a bitch," she says quickly. "I was just curious, that's all."

"It's okay," I say before finishing off the rest of my bottle.

Another one is handed to me by Daphne and I smile at her as I twist off the top. No one here is a Gryffindor. No one is a Hufflepuff, either… but there were a couple of Ravenclaw's and I kept looking at them and to Luna to see if any of them would acknowledge her- but they don't. I find that strange and it makes me sad for some reason.

"I'm actually saving all of the money for a writing retreat next summer," I explain, trying not to be troubled by it. "It's in Ireland and... you know," my eyes light up when I remember that we liked the same author. "Elle Lyons is leading a class there," I tell her. "She's the keynote speaker."

"Oh?" she asks, raising an eyebrow like she didn't know what I was talking about.

"You know," I say uncomfortably, looking around at all the older girls who are staring at me. "The Wicked Witches books?"

"Oh," she nods her head like she just remembered and then she snaps her fingers. "Of course. Maybe I'll look into this retreat thing. It could be interesting."

"Ginny…" I hear Luna whisper, but I ignore her because I'm still talking.

"They have other writers there to teach workshops and everything. You get to stay in this old Victorian house by the sea," I say, excited as I think about it. I even sit up a bit straighter. "At the end of the three weeks, they take whatever you've been working on and help you write a cover letter to submit to a few publishers."

"Wow," Millicent says sarcastically. "So awesome."

I am suddenly feeling very brave and I glare right back at her.

"It is awesome," I snap and then I take another large gulp of the lemonade.

My cheeks feel hot.. In fact.. I don't even feel chilly at all anymore and I push the blanket off of my shoulders.

"Ginny," Luna says and I spin my head to her because she keeps on tugging on my arm. "Whiplash," she says the code word for us to leave and I furrow my brows.

"I feel fine," I tell her. In fact, I feel great. My face feels warm and my hands are tingling. I just want to keep drinking, so I take another sip and then another and then another until the second bottle is finished.

Pansy sees me tuck the empty bottle against the log and she gets up to get me another one. When she hands it to me, she gives Luna a strange little look that I can't read before she walks back to her chair. I laugh at whatever Ivy just said because it was so damn bitchy and she gives me an odd look.

"Light weight," she mutters as Luna tugs on my arm.

"Stop tugging on me," I tell her as I pull away from her.

"Whiplash," she says through gritted teeth and I shake my head.

"No, I want to stay."

"Of course you want to stay," Pansy says as she sits forward again. "Ginny, come sit by me," she says as she pats the blanket by her chair.

I stand up and the world spins as I walk towards her. I trip over my own feet and barely catch myself before Cho stands up to help. She grabs me before I fall into the fire pit.

"Thanks," I say loudly over the music and then I pat her shoulder as I stand up straight. "If I had money with me I would give you some," I tell her, remembering her words from before and everyone laughs as I take a seat beside Pansy, who I have decided that I like.

"You know, I saw you in your underwear," I say, the thought leaving my mouth as soon as I have it. "Why were you doing that?"

She laughs for a second.

"We do it every year," she says, tilting her cup to her awful little sister. "It's supposed to be good luck."

"Does it help get rid of pimples?" I ask, remembering Hermione. "Hermione said it gets rid of pimples."

"She could use a dip, then," she says with a nasty scowl. I ignore it. I'm feeling too good to be mad for Hermione's sake.

"What are you going to do after you graduate?" I blurt out before she can say anything else and she lifts her brows. I can tell she is amused with me… she keeps sending funny little smiles to her friends but I guess it's because I'm talking so loud and so fast. "I can't wait to go to university," I admit and then I smile as I turn more towards her on the wooly blanket. "What school are you going to go to?"

She shrugs. "I'm not sure yet. I think I might go to Black. My mother and father both went there, so I'm a shoo in."

"Black is amazing," I say with a head nod as I lean back and rest my weight on my hand. I look at the fire. The flames dance around and the smoke billows towards Luna when the air shifts. She covers her face with the blanket. "I would love to go there if I could afford it." I can't believe I said that out loud, but my tongue feels loose and I just feel like saying everything on my mind.

"So, you are definitely going to school after Hogwarts?" she says, eyeing me. I nod my head. "That's good," she says. "It's good to be educated. "

"I'm so bored," Millicent whines and I look at her as she groans. Pansy hands me another drink and I take it. "Let's play a game or something."

Now I have two of the lemonades so I quickly drink one… but before I can start on the next something strange happens to me and I don't feel all that well.

"I agree," Daphne says and then she claps her hands. "Oh, I know. Let's play Never Have I Ever."

"How do you play that?" I ask as I look at Luna. She's glaring steadily into the fire with the blanket wrapped around her… she looks kind of like a blonde haired bat.

I snort in laughter and Pansy looks at me before explaining the game. "You put five fingers up and when it's your turn, you have to say a thing that you've never done. If someone has done it, they have to put down their finger. The person who runs out of fingers loses and they have to do a dare at the end."

"Oh," I say, taking another small sip. I feel it land heavy in my stomach.

"Put your fingers up," Daphne says gleefully as we all put our fingers up, but Luna who is still staring at the fire. I should ask her what's wrong… "I'll go first." My attention shifts from my friend to the girl beside her. "Never have I ever….. had sex on a boat," she says and Pansy groans as she puts her finger down.

I give her a look and she nudges me. "It was fun," she defends.

"Luna, it's your turn," I say and she shakes her head.

"I'm not playing," she whispers and I furrow my brows.

"My turn, then!" Astoria says as she bites the corner of her lip. "Never have I ever….Oh, this is a good one," she says with a wicked smile. "Never have I ever had sex," she says. Everyone else puts their finger down but me and her. She smiles at me. "Yay for virginity," she says and I find myself laughing.

I didn't know anyone who was having sex… and now I sat around a fire with a whole group of them.

"Never have I ever…" Ivy starts as she purses her lips and looks into the fire as she thinks about it. "Never have I ever let a guy put his thing in my… " she wiggles her eyebrows and I'm confused.

"In my what?" Millicent asks sharply, annoyed with the vagueness.

"You know, in my… back door," she says.

Honestly! I look around for anyone to put their finger down to that one and then Daphne Greengrass, of all people, covers her face and puts down a finger to a chorus of laughs and disapproving sounds.

"Who and when?" Pansy asks disbelievingly as Daphne peeks at us from between her fingers.

"Roy," she says with a sigh as she lowers her hand. "Last summer. He talked me into it."

"Roy? As in pool boy Roy?" Ivy says in disgust.

Roy. I think I may know him. He manages the pool at the club. I widen my eyes. He's like thirty five years old.

"Roy from Folk Hills?" I ask and she nods her head in shame. "But he's so old."

"He's really hot, alright," she says in a defensive tone. "And he bought me alcohol while I was underage. I felt like I owed him," she says to more laughs as Pansy mutters something about jail bait. "It's not a pleasant experience. I wouldn't recommend it."

"Point taken," Pansy says as she takes another drink from her cup. That Felicity girl goes next.

"Never have I ever been fingered in public…"

It went on like that for a while and when it was my turn my 'never have I evers' were greatly tame considering the perverted things that were coming out of some of these girls' mouths. All I've ever done was kiss someone and even then, it wasn't all that great. I learned a lot of interesting things and some of the stuff I wasn't even totally sure what they were talking about. I was having fun, though. Everyone just assumed I was a tom boy who liked to play quidditch, but I liked being a girl and having that kind of companionship too. Being around this group was something totally new to me. They were all so open and honest about things. The sex stuff they were talking about was intriguing to me because that was something I was never exposed to in casual conversations with my other friends. They weren't like Hermione, who was embarrassed just to think about kissing a boy, and they weren't like Luna who's never crushed on anything in her life.

They were the kind of girlfriends I always wanted to have.

Towards the end of the game, I had every one of my fingers left while a few of the girls were barely holding on to one. Even Cho. Not that I was surprised after seeing her in that closet with Malfoy…

"Alright, my turn," Pansy says once it looped around to her again. I hear people coming down the walkway, but I ignore the voices as Pansy looks at my fingers, all of them still securely in place. "Never have I ever kissed Harry Potter," she says, watching my hand. I raise my eyebrows and shake my head as Cho makes a groaning noise.

"Crap," she says sadly as she puts down her finger. "I lose."

"What was it like kissing the boy wonder?" Millicent asks from her spot as she flicks her manicured fingers against her plastic cup.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"It wasn't very good, actually," she says. I give her a look, annoyed. Cho knows how mean these girls are… they could- and would- make fun of him for this. "It was sloppy and he was so weird about it. I'm glad I decided not to date him."

"Harry's a great kisser," I find myself saying and everyone looks at me.

"You didn't put your finger down," Pansy points out.

"Harry is the best kisser." I don't know why I'm even defending him after listening to them speak about me in my mother's garden. I'm so annoying….. but apparently loyal. I just don't want other people to think bad things about him.

That and I hated Cho Chang.

"What else did you lie about?" Millicent asks, raising her eyebrow as she looks at my fingers.

I clench my jaw, not wanting to dig myself deeper.

"You said you weren't dating him."

I look over my shoulder at that voice. Draco Malfoy stands behind me with his arms crossed over a black zip up hoodie. He looks so tall and big from this angle that I find myself shrinking away from him.

"Blaise!" Pansy stands up and runs over to Zabini who's digging something out of the cooler they brought.

There are about five guys with them and I turn around to face him. I try to stand up, but find myself feeling odd and lightheaded so I just sit on my knees instead with my hand steady on Pansy's chair.

"Well?" he asks icily.

"I'm not dating him," I say stiffly. I don't want to seem like too much of a liar. After all, I already told him I wasn't. "You don't have to be dating someone to kiss them," I say, feeling braver and more loose lipped than I've ever been before.

"Too true," I hear a girl say behind me as Draco unfolds his arms and walks closer.

He looks down at me, the flame of the bonfire flicking over his face. I look up at him and I start fiddling with the end of the too short dress as he looks me over, his eyes lingering on my chest. I realize he probably can see down my dress from this angle so I cross my arm over my chest to rest on the opposite side of my neck so he can't see.

"Don't you fucking lie to me."

I look at him in surprise for the way he's talking to me. Maybe I even gasp a little. Someone turns off the music and suddenly I'm very aware of the eyes on me. I glance around for a moment, and then look down at my lap, feeling embarrassed. But why should I feel embarrassed? He's the one being rude. Who does he think he is talking to me like that? The anger comes quickly. I don't like the visual of being on my knees in front of him so I struggle to stand up. Once I'm on my feet, I feel a little braver and I narrow my eyes at him.

"I'm not lying."

He tilts his head, focusing intently on my face before rolling his eyes.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" Cho comes out of nowhere and puts her hand on his arm. He gives her an irritated glance before glaring at me but I'm happy for the distraction because I find myself leaning to the side. I have to grab Pansy's chair to right myself.

"In a minute," he tells her. "You've never done anything with that git." he says, giving me his full attention again. "You had better tell me that you're lying."

My head is starting to spin and I put my hand on my stomach, grabbing the ribbon around my waist to play with nervously.

"I will not say that because I'm not lying," I tell him, not willing to give up now.

"Draco," Daphne says gently. She steps up beside me on the other side of the chair. "She's had a lot to drink."

Malfoy looks at her and I see the ring finger of his wand hand tapping against his side. When he looks back at me, he levels me with a glare.

"Admit that you're lying," he says darkly.

"Why?" I ask, my voice sounding mean as I look down at his wand hand. "What are you going to do about it?"

He doesn't say anything and then the anger spills out of my unfiltered mouth.

"God, you're so annoying. Like, what is wrong with you?" I ask, angry and rambling. I call him a few bad names and then level him with a glare… but the world in front of me is shaking and I have to hold on to the chair again. "I don't have to do anything you say, you pompous bastard. You're not the boss of me."

The way he is looking at me… It makes me take a step back, but I trip over one of the lemonade bottles. Pansy catches me before I fall and she presses her lips to my ear.

"Stop antagonizing him," she whispers harshly. "Just shut your damn mouth."

I want to snap at her too, but I can't seem to get my thoughts in order now.

"Do you have any food?" I whisper instead of saying anything worthwhile.

She lets me go and I bring a hand up to my forehead. The way my fingers feel against my skin feels weird.

"Draco?" Cho tugs on his arm once more, breaking his eye contact. "Can you please just give me a minute?"

"Will you just wait for a fucking second?" he snaps before looking back at me, but I've already walked away.

I plop down beside Luna. My mouth is watering oddly and I'm hungry. I'm so damn hungry. Maybe I should be more upset? More afraid because of the way Malfoy had spoken to me… but I just can't seem to feel much of anything right now. "I think I'm ready to leave now," I say and she glances at me over her blanket cocoon.

"So now you're ready to leave," she snaps.

"I know. I'm sorry. I was having fun for a second there."

Until Malfoy showed up. Now I feel on edge and unsafe… and so unwell.

"Of course you were," she says as she picks up her bottle and shows me the label. "You're drunk."

"I'm not drunk."

I grab the bottle and squint down at it, trying to read it in the darkness… but I can't.

"It's hard lemonade, Ginny," she spells it out for me as I frown. "That's why you were having such a good time."

I put my hand on my forehead. Daphne Greengrass is nearby, doing one handed cartwheels in the sand behind us. I look up once to see Malfoy and Cho standing off by the boathouse. She's saying something serious to him with her hand reaching out to touch his chest. He has his arms crossed as he listens and then his eyes flick to mine.

"I'm so stupid," I say to myself, looking away quickly.

"She knew you didn't want to drink," she says as she glances at Pansy who's taking the cigarette out of Zabini's mouth to smoke it herself. "But she gave it to you anyway."

"I should have known," I say, feeling embarrassed for how idiotic I am. These girls were so much more mature than I was in every way. It probably didn't even cross her mind to explain it to me. "It's on the label. She didn't do it on purpose," I say and she gives me a hard look before turning away.

Just shut your damn mouth.

"Maybe you're right," I whisper, feeling ill. "Let's leave."

She stands and lets the blanket fall to the ground. I stand as well and the world spins again as I hold onto Luna for support.

"Have you ever drank, Ginny?" she asks as she holds me up and I shake my head. "Not even wine?" she whispers but when I tell her no she just sighs loudly as she grabs our purses. "Let's get you home, then."

"Wait," I say as we start walking away, back towards the house. Someone says my name, but I don't know who. "We should say goodbye."

I go to walk back to the group, but Luna tugs on me. "You can say goodbye another time. I just want to go home."

I nod my head and follow her as she pulls me along to the stone steps so we can go back towards the house. "I'm sorry I'm such a terrible friend," I mutter to her. I should have just left when she said whiplash. That was the deal. "I should have listened to you. I'm so sorry."

"It's fine," she says gently. "It was worth staying just to hear you call Malfoy all those mean names."

I sway on my feet as I try not to trip.

"Luna," I say softly as my head spins and my mouth waters again. "Stop walking," I say with blurry eyes as I stop in my tracks and lean on her for support midway up the curved stone stairs. "Can we just rest a minute?"

"Let's just get to the App zone," she whispers, looking up at the red gate. "Get away from this place."

She tries to pull me along but I tug my arm back.

"I think I'm going too…" I gag, but try to swallow it. "I think I'm going to…"

"Puke…" Luna says as I do just that all over her shoes.

She sighs in disgust as I fall to my knees. I've never felt this terrible before. I feel like there's something inside of me squeezing my insides until every last drop I have is out.

I hear footsteps approach and I clench my eyes shut in embarrassment at being found this way as Luna holds back my hair.

"She's never drank before," I hear Luna explain to whoever it is as my eyes water and my stomach convulses into dry heaves. I'm sure I look attractive.

Just wonderful.

"Take her inside and clean her off," I hear that deep, dominant voice again and I groan when I realize it's him witnessing this. "Pansy, do it now," he snaps.

"Come on," Pansy says and I feel the hand that was holding up my hair get tugged away. "You have puke all over your shoes. Draco will make sure she's okay."

"But…" I hear Luna say before she's gone.

I get up on my hands and knees. I have no idea why. I'm just trying to deaden the pain.

"It's not fun, is it?" he says and I shake my head.

It hurts. I don't want to throw up anymore.

"I'm dying." I say with a hoarse voice before swallowing hard.

"You're not dying," he says. "Have you really never had alcohol before?" he asks curiously as he places something over my shoulders.

Where did Luna go?

I shake my head. "I didn't know what it was," I cry as I bring my hand up to wipe away tears. "I'm stupid," I state harshly. "Where's Luna… I need Luna." I go to sit back on my knees but another turn of my stomach stops me. "I hate this," I whisper as I spit into the mulch by the stairs. "I want to go home."

I sit back again and tug on the sleeves of the hoodie he put on me. Is this his? I shake my head and I glance up at him as he kneels beside me. He's in a short sleeve shirt and well-tailored shorts. I look at myself and then the puke puddle in front of me. I started crying again, pissed off that he had to see me like this.

"You think I'm trash," I ramble as I remember his last fight with my brother on the platform. I'm just pulling out random things now and I can't stop myself. "Why did I even come here tonight?"

He takes out his wand and uses a simple spell to clean up the mess I made. He doesn't say anything for a moment as he stares at me.

"I'll take you down to the boat house," he says. "You can get a glass of water there."

"No, you're mean."

"Am I being mean to you right now?" he snaps in annoyance. "Unless you want to spend the night on the ground."

"I need to go home."

"You can't go home," he scoffs. "How the hell are you going to Apparate in your state?"

Don't you fucking lie to me.

"You're scary," I whisper because it is true. I can't believe the way he talks to me… the things he says and how he says them. Why did he think it was okay to treat people the way he does?

He doesn't say anything and I close my eyes.

Suddenly, I have this overwhelming urge to leave so I turn to run away from him but I slip on the cleaned up step that's slick with cleaning magic. I fall back into him, making him stumble off the stairs and into the bushes. I land on top of him and try to get up again, only to find myself straddling his waist when my flip flop slips against the mulch.

"This was a terrible idea," I hear him whisper as I put my hand on his chest to steady myself for a moment. "Stop moving around like that," he snaps as he pushes me off of him. "You can't fucking do that and not expect-"

"Expect what?" I ask.

He looks at me in disbelief as he sits up. I lay back and clench my eyes shut. I'm trying not to throw up again. The mulch hurts my back and the thorny rose bush is prickly.

He's silent for a moment and I shift my legs. Pressing my knees together and turning to the side.

"This dress doesn't fit you," he says, sounding annoyed as he yanks down the hem to cover my thighs. "You shouldn't wear shit like this out."

"It's Luna's dress," I explain like he would care.

"Well, don't wear it again."

"You're not my dad," I say, my throat sounding scratching.

He doesn't say anything to that.

"I just want to lay here for a second," I tell him when I hear him get up. I throw an arm over my eyes when I feel tired and heavy lidded. "I just want to lay here…"

I barely felt him picking me up, but when I finally opened my eyes again, the sun was shining and I was in a strange bed.

I sit up quickly and then yelp in protest as I grab my head with both hands. Pain. Blinding pain. I blink hard a few times against the headache before looking out the window. It's a large circle and from it I can see the lake, the sun shining in a clear blue sky. I exhale slowly, swinging my feet over the edge and having to catch myself when I realize I'm on a loft bed a yard or so off the ground.

"What the hell?" I whisper to myself as I look around the strange room, squinting against the light.

The walls are made of wood planks painted white and there are a couple framed watercolors of forest animals above the bed that's built into an alcove. There are two doors on the opposite wall with shining brass handles and there's a large ceiling fan that looks like a boat propeller hanging down from above. It's clear no one actually uses this room as it is pretty bare. The only piece of furniture besides the bed was an empty desk with no chair that sat under the window.

I bring my hand up to my temple to help deaden the pressure as I debate jumping down to find a bathroom. It feels like my brain is going to explode so I don't really want to move just yet. I pull the sleeves over my hands and then give a second take to the sweatshirt I'm wearing. This isn't mine. I bring the collar up to my nose and smell the inside where the fabric meets the cold metal zipper. It smells nice… A man's cologne…A smell I have smelt before in the employee hallway at Folk Hills under the bright fluorescent lights. Suddenly it all comes back to me. The memories from last night crashing against my mind like a violent wave. This isn't mine. This isn't my house…This isn't my bed…

My parents are going to kill me….

Where's Luna?

The door to the little room opens and I look over as Malfoy walks in, holding a glass of water and a vial of yellow liquid. I find myself shrinking back on the bed, trying to make myself small so maybe he won't see me.

"How are you feeling?" he asks as he hands me the glass of water. I don't answer. I look at him nervously. He's still wearing the outfit he had on last night and his hair is tousled from sleep. "Do you have a headache?" he asks. I hesitate a second before nodding my head. "Here."

He hands me the vial.

"What is this?" I ask. My voice sounds thick and scratchy. I cough and take another drink from the water to make it normal again.

"It's for your hangover," he explains. I don't do anything with it so he takes it from me and uncorks it. "It's not poison."

He hands it back and I stare at it for a moment, holding it up to the light so I can see the bubbles moving around inside.

"Drink it."

I give him a look for telling me what to do but my head feels bad enough to not really care if it is poison. I take a little sip at first- it doesn't taste good. It tastes like grass and flour and something else unpleasant- so I throw it all back in one gulp.

"Where's Luna?" I ask with a shudder as he takes the vial away and puts it on the table underneath the circular window.

There are a couple boats out on the water now and I watch his profile as he looks at them with a thoughtful tilt of his head.

"She went home," he says dismissively.

The potion starts working. My brain doesn't feel like it's ramming into a brick wall anymore and I close my eyes, relieved. I take another drink of water before he takes that away from me too.

"She just left me?" I say, feeling hurt by it.

"You passed out," he says. I look at the bed. The sheets are a powder blue color and the blankets have been all kicked around. "There was no reason for her to stay."

"Oh." I look down at the pillows and place a nervous hand on my neck. "Where did…." He looks at me and raises an eyebrow. "Where did you sleep?"

He eyes me for a moment and then he comes closer, surprising me by pressing his palms against the bed on either side of my thighs.

"I slept…" I swallow hard and lean back, not liking how close he is. "On the couch."

He must see the relief on my face, because he smiles.

"Do you remember last night?" he asks, catching my eyes when I try to look away.

I nod my head. I remember every terrible detail of it, unfortunately. Why is he so close to me? I feel like I'm stuck in some bad dream where Malfoy thinks he can invade my space and say any awful thing he wants.

"I remember all the way up until the… thing on the stairs," I say, a blush spreading over my cheeks. "Then I think I was sleeping."

"You were."

"Nothing else happened after that?" I whisper, unsure.

"Like what?"

I look at him again. The sun hits his eyes and makes them seem almost silver. I swallow hard and look down at my hands that are resting uselessly on my lap.

"Nothing happened," he says after a few moments of worried silence. "You slept in here by yourself the rest of the night."

"Good," I whisper, relieved. My body visibly relaxes. "That's good."

He stares at me. His eyes are a light, unwelcoming gray and he has such dark eyelashes. Where was the fairness in that? He's still caging me against the bed and I look down at his hands, wondering if I should kick him back.

"It's obvious you can't hold your alcohol," he says flatly. He seems annoyed with me but he's the one being so overly familiar.

I'm the one who should be annoyed with him!

"I didn't realize what it was," I whisper, staring at his throat when I find his eyes too intense.

"Right." He rolls his eyes like he didn't believe me. "In any case, maybe it would be wise for you not to do that again."

"Do what?"

"Drink to the point that you're getting sick and passing out around strangers," he says like I was an idiot for not knowing what he was talking about. "You hardly know anyone here and anything could have happened to you. Some guys…" He trails off and looks over my face. I'm blushing again because of the way he is scolding me. I know I wasn't in the best shape last night but I'm not a child and he's not in any position to say these things to me. "Anyways. You won't be doing that again."

"You don't get to tell me what I can and can't do," I say, kicking my legs a little bit so he has to back up. "Stop acting like–"

"Shut up," he snaps and I do just because I can't believe he said that to me.

I gather my courage and go to say something else but someone knocks on the door.

"Knock knock," Pansy peeks her head into the room. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"You're not," I state dryly as Malfoy gives me a dirty look.

"I brought some toothpaste and….." She looks at me as she hands me a pink toothbrush. "It looks like you need it."

"What time is it?" I ask as I hop off the bed once Malfoy finally backs up.

"It's noon," she replies.

"Noon? As in twelve?" She nods her head. "I have to be at work in half an hour," I say, panicking. "Where's the bathroom?"

"Just call in sick," she says as she points to one of the doors on the other side of the room.

I run to it and shut myself inside. I brush my teeth quickly and then look at my reflection. My makeup is only slightly smudged but my hair looks ridiculous.

"Get her different clothes," I hear Malfoy order on the other side of the door. I get my hands wet and run them over my hair to make the nest look a little more presentable. "She's not wearing that dress." There's a pause. Pansy must have said something because Malfoy answers, his voice clipped and annoyed. "Because it's too short and she's not wearing it."

I try to do something…. Anything with my hair. The curls Luna had put in last night are now just a frizzy, jumbled mess. I give up and end up just putting it all up in a bun.

Someone knocks and I open the door as I try to dab some dried vomit off of the skirt of Luna's dress.

"Just call off."

Pansy hands me some clothes and then leans against the door frame. I look behind her. Malfoy is gone, thank God.

"You were throwing up last night. That's a good enough reason not to go in."

"I can't."

I shake my head. I need the money, but I don't want her to know that. I look down at the clothes she handed me and then try to hand them back.

"I'm alright in this."

She shoves them back at me and her eyes flash in annoyance.

"You smell bad and there's vomit," she says, motioning to the stain by the hem. "Just put some fresh clothes on and I'll have this washed for you."

Okay.

I take off the dress. Honestly, I thought she would shut the door once I started changing but she didn't. She just watches me with a curious tilt to her head. I suddenly feel self-conscious and I turn around, pulling on the jeans. They're too small and my cheeks heat when I can't get them zipped.

"Here." Pansy comes near me and I turn to find her with her wand. "I know every fitting spell there is," she says with a smile as she points it at my waist and says a word I've never heard before. "You're a lot curvier than I am."

I don't know if that means she thinks I'm fat but my cheeks redden even more.

"I meant that as a good thing," she says, when she sees the insecurity on my face. "A lot of guys like that body type. Trust me."

The jeans grow until they fit me and I give her a grateful smile as I zip them up.

"We should hang out again." She stands behind me as I pull the slouchy pink t-shirt over my head. "I know last night was kind of a bust, but we're going shopping today. I think you should come."

"Maybe," I say even though I know I'm not going. "I work until five thirty, though."

"We'll see," she says with a shrug and then her dark eyes find mine in the mirror. "You should thank Draco."

Her eyes are such a dark, deep brown that they look nearly black sometimes. Mine were much lighter in comparison and looked almost warm next to hers.

"For what?" I nearly laugh at her but she's very serious.

"It was very kind of him to take care of you last night like he did. He doesn't just do that for anyone," she says. "Especially after you called him so many colorful names."

I look down.

"Why was he being so nice to me?" I whisper, almost afraid of the answer as I flick my eyes to her reflection.

That whole humiliation fear is coming back to me and I can't shake it. I'm lucky they didn't draw on my face with marker or do something else horrific- but I can't help but think something just isn't right.

"He's not all bad, you know," she says, tilting her head down to look at me from the corner of her eyes.

"I don't like the way he talks to me," I say, turning the water back on to wash my hands. "No one has ever spoken to me the way he does."

Shut up.

"You must have said something he didn't like."

"I bet there's a lot he doesn't like," I say, crinkling my nose at the thought of him.

"Well, I know he likes this," she says, dancing her fingers over the curve of waist and hip and then the underside of my breasts. I look at her reflection again and she smirks. "I do know that much."

She rests her chin on my shoulder and smiles at me. I can't figure her out… I don't understand what's going on and I don't like that I can't properly read the situation. Once upon a time a Slytherin boy was nice to me and then he almost had me eaten by a giant fucking snake.

"I better go."

"Alright," she says with a smile as she steps back.

I walk into the bedroom and look around, seeing my bag on the table by the glass of water and empty vial. I pick it up and sling it over my shoulder, digging through it to take out my wand.

"Hey," I turn to her as I slip on my flip flops. She's holding Malfoy's sweatshirt. "Give this back to Draco, will you?" She tosses it to me. "You should see him on your way out."

I don't say anything to that, but I take it anyways. When I open the door to the bedroom, I see a big open space with wood paneled walls and large, circular windows that face out to the water. There are canoes hanging from the ceiling and a large stone fireplace against the far side wall. A couple of over-stuffed green couches are set in front of it and some people are sleeping on them. Even more are sleeping on the shaggy rug on the ground. Bodies in different states of undress are tangled around each other as empty beer bottles and yellow plastic cups litter the tables and floor around them.

I head towards the front door.

There's a small kitchen nook and someone… or something… had already made breakfast. There are plates full of scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage. Fresh fruit and frosted jars of juice and milk. I grab a piece of toast on my way out and take a bite as I go to the porch. The dock is to the right and I can see a couple of people sitting around the stone firepit on the beach.

Even from here I can tell it's Malfoy and Zabini.

I hesitate a second and look down at the sweatshirt. Why do I let him intimidate me? I square my shoulders and take a deep breath. I start walking towards them, my stomach hurting all over again but I'm not going to throw up this time. I'm nervous. I throw the toast out towards the lake when I find myself no longer wanting to eat it.

Malfoy's back is to me. The fire is dead but there are still some red embers burning and Zabini watches my approach with his brow raised. He sits back and crosses his legs with a beer in his right hand. He's drinking already? Maybe he never stopped. When I get closer, he looks at Malfoy and nods his head towards me.

I stop when Malfoy turns in his chair.

I swallow hard.

"Good afternoon, Weasley," Zabini says with a smirk as Malfoy's eyes flick over my new outfit. "Welcome to the land of the living."

I don't say anything to him. I just give him a look before handing Malfoy his hoodie.

"Thanks," I say tightly before turning around and leaving.

I hear Zabini laughing at me as I walk away, but I try to ignore it. I jog up the stairs and go past the red gate, feeling an odd tingling on the back of my neck. I can't help but feel like something is wrong with me and it makes me feel terribly uncomfortable. I keep my head down and try not to worry as I make it to the apparition point. When I get to The Burrow, I run past my mum and her questioning gaze so I can go to my room.

I take off Pansy's nice clothes and fold them up carefully. Then I sniff the end of my hair.

I smell like a bonfire.

I glance at my clock. I might have enough time for a quick shower. I grab a dress out of my closet and fresh underwear and then run to the bathroom.

"Jesus Christ, Ginny!" Ron scolds as I run past him and Harry. I hear something hit the wall, but I'm far too busy right now to be embarrassed. "Put some clothes on! Harry can see!"

I'm still upset with the whole 'annoying' comment so I glare at him as I open the bathroom door. I stand confident like Pansy Parkinson and I narrow my eyes.

"Honestly, Ron," I snap at him as Harry looks away. "It's just like a bathing suit."

I slam the door and take a quick shower, using too much shampoo and too much conditioner but I want the smell to go away. I put on fresh underwear and a floral patterned dress before running downstairs. My hair is still wet and clinging to my face and neck as I dig the heels out of the shoe corner.

"Goodness, Ginny." My mum sighs as she lifts her wand and dries my hair. "You really need to learn to slow down."

"Thanks!" I say, grabbing my bag and running outside.

When I get to Folk Hills, I have only two minutes to get to the checkout counter before I'm considered late and I speed walk down the service hallway, breathless and trying not to panic.

"Gin!" I ignore the person yelling my name. "Gin, I have your bag!"

I stop. I look over my shoulder as Luna jogs to keep up with me in her purple waitressing uniform. She hands me my duffle bag. "Thanks," I say as I sling it over my shoulder.

"No problem. Did you make it home okay?"

"Yes, thanks for leaving me," I tell her hotly and she tilts her head to the side.

"They told me…"

"It doesn't matter," I say as I start walking away. "I'm late. I'll see you after work."

"Our usual spot?" She calls after me and I wave my hand.

"Yeah, yeah," I say as I run towards the cloak check out.

Without fail, there's Delsia standing in front of the counter with Nadia looking sympathetic behind her.

"You're late again," she says sternly and I swallow hard.

"I'm sorry," I let my hands fall to my sides. "I lost track of time."

"One more time and don't even bother coming in, Ginevra," she says and I nod my head, feeling embarrassed. "I run a tight ship here."

"Yes, Delsia," I whisper and she gives me one more look before walking off.

"I'm sorry, Ginny," Nadia says as I think nasty thoughts about Delsia to myself. I go behind the counter and put my duffle bag down. "I tried to tell her you were in the bathroom but she insisted on staying and waiting for you."

"It's okay," I say with a shrug. Why is she always all over me? "I was late," I state fairly as I smooth out my dress. "How long do you work today?"

"Until three," she says. "They're having some kind of luncheon so they thought it would be busy. That's why we're overlapping so much today. I think Carol is coming in later to finish up."

I rarely see Carol. She's a very old woman with arthritis who works here only when she feels like it and she rarely ever feels like it. "That should be fun," I say sarcastically.

"She always asks me when I'm getting married," Nadia says as she takes a cloth and starts wiping off the counter. "She's really a prudish old bat."

I shrug as I start cleaning things up as well, just to avoid talking to her.

"Nadie!" One of the creeper old men walks up with a wide grin on his face. "I'm so glad to see you working today. I've missed you the past two weeks."

"Hello, Mr. Fields. " she says with a smile and then her eyes slide to mine. "Ginny is working today as well."

I've never seen a man look as put out as he does. Why does it bother him so much that I'm working as well?

"So… no special service today?" he asks and I send a confused look to Nadia.

"Perhaps later," she says quickly as she takes his golf clubs. She walks them to the lockers and takes the tip he gives her after she hands him his ticket.

"Later," he confirms before walking away, disappointed.

"What was that all about?" I ask curiously as she flicks some hair over her shoulder. "What does 'special service' mean?"

She gives me a look before turning and putting her full attention on me. "Sometimes you can make a lot of money here, Ginny," she says and I furrow my brows as she shakes her head like I was stupid for not understanding. "Never mind. How's your family?"

Family. That's always safe. I tell her they're fine and then drop it from there. We barely speak to one another the rest of her shift. Every once and a while she'll tell me a story about one of her kids but that's the extent of our conversation until Carol comes in to take over for her. Carol is even more boring to be around if that is even possible…. Sometimes she'll speak to me but mostly she just coughs and hacks into her handkerchief and complains about the dust.

I start daydreaming about my bed, watching the clock slowly tick by.

I could really use a nap and the thought of sleeping until tomorrow afternoon keeps me going until it is finally my time to leave. I grab my stuff and start heading towards the back entrance to meet up with Luna, but Pansy and Daphne Greengrass fall into my line of vision from the opposite side of the hall. I stop walking when I see them and toy with the strap of my bag as I try to decide what to do. Should I pretend I don't see them and slip away? I don't want to go shopping and I'm really looking forward to taking that nap.

Daphne waves me down as she grabs onto Pansy's hand.

"Ginny! We thought we missed you," she says. "I've never been back here before," she says as she looks around the bright hallway and then back at me. "Do you like my outfit?" she asks as she grabs the skirt of her dress with her slim fingers. "I'm trying out the bohemian chic look. Pansy says I look stupid."

"You look fine to me," She's wearing a white peasant dress, cowboy boots, and beaded jewelry. There are feathers intertwined in her honey blonde hair and she's wearing a woven headband. Bohemian chic, I guess. "You look pretty."

She gives Pansy a smug look and then gives me an awkward hug. I lift my shoulders to slink out of it.

"What are… " I look at Pansy as she raises an eyebrow. "What are you guys doing back here?"

"I told you we're going shopping," Pansy answers as she takes my hand and starts dragging me the opposite way of the exit.

"We're going out tonight," Daphne says as she reaches into her small beaded purse and takes out some lipstick to apply to her full lips- a bright coral color. "We need good outfits."

"You know, I'm kind of tired. I should go home," I say as I try to pull back. They each step up on either side of me and Pansy slides her arms through mine.

"Of course, you have to come. I know the perfect place that would fit your style perfectly," Daphne says as she smiles over my head at Pansy.

I don't even have a style. Is clearance rack a style?

"You'll love it," Pansy confirms.

"I told Luna I'd meet her out back," I say looking over my shoulder at the exit that keeps on getting further and further away.

"I don't think she'll mind if you leave with us," Pansy replies, looking at me with perfectly sculpted eyebrows. How does she get them to look that nice? "She didn't mind leaving you last night."

I think about that for a second. She's right, of course. Luna did just leave me with people I barely knew… and with Draco Malfoy.

"Well, I need to tell my mum…."

"Okay, let's floo her, then," she says quickly, walking me towards the main hall of the building.

I rarely see the main foyer. I had nearly forgotten how beautiful it was. It's a large open space with limestone pillars and a green marble floor inlaid with swirling gold accents. There are portraits hanging on the walls… wizened wizards in old fashionedrobes glaring down at me as we pass.

Pansy pulls me towards the front desk, a large black thing intricately carved with ancient beasts no longer living. She taps the bell on the counter impatiently until a well groomed man comes out and raises his brows at the scene we make.

"We need to use a fireplace," Pansy says.

"Right this way, Miss Parkinson."

I follow them to the official fireplace behind the counter. It's framed with the same green marble as the flooring with a thick golden mantle on top. I watch as the man turns the knob on the side and I step back when the flames jump to life a moment later. Daphne grabs a handful of floo powder and she gives it to me with a bright smile.

"Go on then," she says. I throw the powder into the flames and I stick my head in as I say my parent's address.

"Mum?" I call as I look at my living room through the green flames.

"Ginny?" I hear Ron say with his mouth full as he walks over to the fireplace. He kneels down with a chicken leg in his right hand and grease on his chin. "What are you doing?"

"Will you tell Mum and Dad that I'm going shopping with some friends?"

"Friends?" he says as he chomps into the chicken. I make a disgusted face at it. Does he ever stop eating? "Who are you going with?"

"No one you need to be concerned about," I snap, angry that he had to question that I even had friends in the first place. "Just tell them I'll be home later."

"But wait…" he says. I pull out before he can speak to me anymore.

"So?" Pansy asks, watching me carefully. "What did they say?"

I fake a smile. "I can go," I tell her and Daphne claps her hands as I stand up and clean myself of the soot from the fireplace.

"Ginevra, is that you?" I hear Delsia's stern voice and I reluctantly turn around. "What are you doing out here? You know you're not allowed–"

"She's with us," Daphne says as she takes my arm and smiles at my very hard looking boss.

"My shift is over," I explain as Delsia looks down at me.

"Employees are not allowed to use the front fireplaces…. There are some in the break room you could use if you wish to."

My cheeks burn and Pansy crosses her arms.

"We just said she was with us," she repeats Daphne's words with a dark brow lifted. "And since I'm a paying patron- I can bring whoever I want wherever I want. Come on, Ginny," Pansy says as she pulls me away. She sends a look down to Delsia's wrist. For the first time since I started working here I noticed she was wearing a yellow ribbon. The way Pansy was looking at it… at her… it made me feel bad and I tried to convey my feelings through my expression but Delsia looked as hard as ever.

"This is going to be so fun!" Daphne sings as we start walking towards the front exit. Past the flowers and statues and other beautiful things in the front foyer that the employees in the back never get to see.

I send one more look over my shoulder to Delsia as she stands under the colored lights that hang from above. She has her arms crossed and she looks mad and…. worried?

Why would she be so worried about me? She doesn't even like me.

Convinced I'm putting meaning into something that isn't there, I banish the thought from my mind and allow myself to be taken away.

When I ask where we're going- neither answer. Pansy just grabs my arm and apparates us to the safe zone right outside a secluded part of Wizarding London.

"Welcome to the Golden Road!" Daphne says in a sing-song voice.

The road before us isn't gold at all. It's made up of well-worn bricks and crumbling concrete. Fancy shops are lined up and down either side and nicely dressed witches and wizards move in and out of them with bags swinging from each hand. Some particularly posh looking people walk ahead with boxes piled on top of twitchy looking house elves that scurry behind them.

I feel out of place and uncomfortable again. I stuff my purse inside of my overnight bag and follow behind Daphne and Pansy who are perfectly at ease window shopping and discussing the different styles that are hot for the season.

Apparently, orange is all the rage.

When we get to a little boutique with a whimsical window display of mannequins dressed in white feathered dresses, I stop to stare at it for a moment. They look like beautiful swans against a moving backdrop of swirling blues and sparkling lights.

"Want to try in here?" Pansy asks at my side, seeing the wide-eyed wonder on my face. "They have some cute stuff."

I nod my head, curious enough to want to look but knowing I can't buy anything.

When we get inside, I look up at the glass chandeliers hanging down. They glitter and shine…slightly swaying and pulsing to the trendy music that seems to seep from the ceiling. I'm suddenly hit with a wonderful smell and I smile at the mannequins walking around the shop, wearing the fashions hanging on the walls and folded up on the dark wooden tables.

The clothes were fancy… not ball gown fancy but fancy enough. Short dresses made of silk, velvet, and shimmering fabrics…. Woven cashmere tops and structured layered bottoms… Accessories like belts, hats, and jewelry hung on the walls. This is much different from the thrift stores I'm used to and I look away, only to see Pansy watching me carefully. Her eyes are slightly narrowed like she was trying to understand my expression… but how could she? She would never understand.

Daphne is grabbing things off the hangers and pulling shirts from the tables, folding them all over her shoulder as she asks the sales girl to open a fitting room for us.

I follow her to the back hallway where there is a line of rooms with golden numbers hanging on the doors. I go to sit down on one of the benches but Daphne pushes me into the unlocked room.

"You're the one trying stuff on, silly," she says as she shuts the door and throws some dresses over the top. "I already know what fits me."

"Oh," is all I say.

I set my duffle bag down and look at myself in the mirror. Usually fitting room lights are awful and bright but this store had soft golden lights that made everything look a little hazy. I liked them. It hid imperfections and gave the room a dream like quality.

I start unzipping my dress as Daphne throws more clothes over the top of the door.

"Let us see," she says, impatient as I slip out of my dress and pick up the first thing I see. A slinky gold shift dress with beautiful beadwork…. I look at the size and then throw it back over.

"That's not my size."

"Well, what size are you?" she asks with a huff and then I see her peek her head in from under the door. Her blonde hair skimming the ground.

"I'm a size ten."

"Size ten?" she says squishing up her face and disappearing from under the door.

She doesn't say anything else, though I'm sure she wants to. She leaves for a moment and then a whole avalanche of clothes falls on my head.

"Size ten," she says brightly.

I try on a few things but I don't like them so I don't step out.

"Try this on."

Daphne throws another dress over the changing wall and I sigh as it lands on my shoulder. I pull it off and stare at the size on the tag.

"Daphne," I throw it back. "I can't fit into something that small. Stop giving me such little sizes."

"Well, you don't look that big," she says and I roll my eyes as I tug on a silky tank top from the pile. It's yellow and it looks terrible against my skin tone.

"Here, I found the perfect thing!" Pansy throws a gray dress over the wall and I pull it back to get a good look. It's some type of jersey knit, so it won't be as tight as the things Daphne keeps giving me.

It's a slate gray color and the front is made up of silver shimmering sequins. I kind of like it, actually. I tug off the other clothes and slide it over my head until my arms slide through the sleeves. I tug it into place and then I look at the mirror. The neckline is wide and dips lower in the back. Not low enough to show my bra but low enough to be interesting.

I actually don't hate it.

"Let's see it," Pansy says and I carefully open the door and step out. Themusic from the shop beats loudly in the background as I walk over to the three-way mirror at the end of the hall.

"What do you think?" I ask self-consciously as I check myself out from every angle. I've never just tried on clothes with girls before. Of course, I only had brothers and Hermione to shop with… but she's not that type of girl, really.

"It's hot," Daphne says as she walks over to me with a few silver bangles in her hand. She puts them around my wrist and smirks at the mirror. "Bring the shoes," she says to Pansy.

Pansy comes up holding sky high black leather booties that have studs on them and I shake my head. "I can't wear those," I say as she places them by my feet. "I'll fall over."

"Just try them on," Pansy says with a sigh as I slip my feet into them. They fit like a dream. "It completes the look."

I turn around and look over my shoulder. It makes my legs and back look… great.

"Oh, it's very rocker chic," Daphne says with a smile. I turn back around and look at myself in the mirror. "You must get it and wear it tonight, Ginny. You just must. Pansy, you can lengthen it, right?" she says, looking at Pansy as she gives me a thoughtful look. "You know… since the shortness thing." She whispers that last bit and I make a face.

"Is it too short?" I ask, looking at the mirror and trying to see what they do.

"Nothing I can't fix," Pansy reassures me with a smile.

I reach under my arm and I pull out the price tag to have a look. My mouth dries up and I shake my head.

"I don't really like it that much," I lie because I cannot spend that much money on one article of clothing.

Daphne saw that I checked the price and she came over to me to pull the tag to her.

"Oh, it's only seventy six galleons!" she says with an excited smile. "That's a great deal."

"Daphne, will you go pick out some earrings?" Pansy says lightly, but her eyes stay trained on my face. Daphne flutters out of the room.

"You look great in the dress, Ginny," she says seriously. "If you can't…. " she shakes her head and then she smiles. "Let me get it for you as a new friend gift."

My ears burn again… just like they did when Harry bought me the ice cream cone. "No, don't do that… I don't know if I like it that much, is all," I say as I look back at the mirror. The more I deny myself the more I find myself wanting it, but I can't spend that much money on something so frivolous.

I start to take it off, but she grabs my wrist.

"Let me go see if they have any discounts or anything."

She's gone before I can even say a word and I look back at the mirror, smoothing my fingers down the front. I'm sure I could find something similar for cheaper. I'm just buying the brand name, right? It's just some gray fabric and some sequins…. Nothing special.

Ugh, I sound like my mum.

I make a face at that and then sit down heavily on the bench with my head in my hands.

Maybe I could ask Delsia to give me some more hours to make up for it…. Maybe I could go back to doing yard work to get some extra money on the side… but seventy six galleons is just too much and I would never be able to build that back up before summer ends.

When Pansy comes back, she smiles at me.

"It's half off." I blink at her. "That's doable, right?"

What's half off of seventy six? I do the math in my head and frown. Thirty eight galleons is still way too much… but I don't feel like I can say no right now. Not when she is looking at me like that. I nod my head, kind of panicked as I go to get my duffle bag. I get my purse and pull out my unused Gringotts card as Daphne comes near.

"Why don't you wear it out?" She says. "We won't have much time to get ready before we leave for Accardi's."

"What is Accardi's?" I ask curiously as I kick off the shoes and slide the bangles from my wrist. I look at the price on the bottom of the shoes and pale once more. How can shoes cost that much?

"It's a dance club," Daphne answers as I slide on the clunky black work heels. "It's really popular right now."

She names off a few musicians that were seen there recently and then threads her arm through mine as we go to the register.

"Will I be able to get in?" I ask worriedly. I'm not of age yet and I figure that most clubs would card.

I hear her scoff as I stuff my flowered blue dress into my duffle bag. "Of course, you will. I've been going since I was fifteen and I was never denied."

There's a small line at the register and I start nervously chewing on my status ribbon. I've never spent so much money on one thing before and I'm kind of nervous about it. Pansy tells me to stop being so anxious and she snaps off the tag to hand to the cashier when it's my turn. The full price pops up and then she shares a look with Pansy before pressing a few buttons to bring it down to thirty eight. I nearly faint as I swipe the card and imagine the amount being taken out of my account. I hold my breath as I sign the receipt and I take the tag from the worker, putting it in my bag just in case… just in case I need to bring it back. Once the transaction is finished and the dress is officially mine I feel…. I feel… good.

I just bought something with my own money. Something that was nice and expensive from a cool shop with cool people and loud music. I feel pretty cool myself. I find a smile on my face as Daphne and I walk out of the shop. Pansy stays back and when she comes out, she has a shopping bag in her hand.

"Oh, what did you get?" Daphne asks as she tries to grab the bag, but Pansy pulls it away and hands it to me.

"A new friendship present," she says as I take it from her. I give her an odd look as I open the bag and see the box for the leather high heeled boots that went so well with the outfit.

"Pansy…" I say with a head shake as my throat becomes tight. These cost more than the dress did. "I can't accept this."

I try to hand it back but she pushes it at my chest. "Come on, Ginny. You needed them for the outfit. Just think of it as an early birthday present."

"Thank you," I say sincerely. I almost want to cry but I stop myself from being that embarrassing.

"Now, don't get all sappy on me," she says as Daphne squeezes my hand.

When we go to Pansy's house to get ready, I think about flooing my parents again to let them know what I'm doing… but I just couldn't. I knew my mum would make me tell her the truth and then I would have to come home once they knew my plans. I didn't want to deal with it.

The inside of Pansy's lake house is beautiful, of course. I don't know what I was expecting, but the wealth in which her family lived did something strange to my feelings. I was jealous and in awe… and I wanted so badly to grow up and have something like it for myself one day.

The walls are all dark jeweled tones and artwork is on every surface. Paintings, sculptures, drawings… Her dad is a collector, she explained as we walked past a statue of… something… I'm not sure what it was. Just a swirling black metal thing on the podium.

There were a lot of photographs of Pansy and her sister in gilded frames- but no complete family portraits. She explained to me that her dad lived here full time after her parent's divorce and he had been trying to erase her mother from his history ever since.

Her room, of course, was just as enviable. With a large bed covered in plush pillows and a shaggy white comforter, it looked like something out of a dream. Something my pathetic room couldn't even compare to. The carpet was purple and there was a walk-in closet that was organized by color and season. She even has an alcove for shoes… There were dozens of them displayed on the lighted wall.

I had only four pairs and two of them had once belonged to other people.

Pansy did my hair… She straightened it with her wand until it was sleek and laid flat. Daphne did my make-up… winged eyeliner and rosy lips. She told me I had lovely skin and I smiled. When I looked at myself in the mirror I barely recognized my reflection. I looked like a real girl. Not like a baby with chubby cheeks and an annoying crush on Harry Potter. I didn't look like some poor tom boy in hand me down clothes trying her best. I stared at myself in the mirror for a majority of the time as Pansy and Daphne got ready, marveling at the makeup and the hair that they had given me so effortlessly.

I'm going to have to make them show me how to do it.

"Pans," Daphne nods to me before we get ready to leave. "You know."

"Oh, right," she says as she takes out her wand and points it to the dress. She starts lengthening it and I frown. "Can you put your hands down?" She asks, a thoughtful tilt to her head. "That way I can gauge where to place it."

"Does it need to be this long?" I ask. I felt like I was at Hogwarts again. Where your skirt couldn't go up past your knee.

"Yes, it does," Daphne says before giving me a sunny smile. "It looks better this way. You don't want to be showing off your knickers, do you?"

Does it? I'm not sure if that's true but they both seemed so sure that I didn't question it. Daphne's wearing the equivalent of a head scarf as a top and Pansy is wearing a strapless dress that's so short it looks like a bathing suit. I don't understand why I have to be so modest and when I say so, Pansy rolls her eyes.

"We're of age, Ginny," she says like it explained everything. "You're not. You don't want guys getting the wrong idea."

"Yeah, Gin," Daphne says. "You don't want to get anyone in trouble, do you? Besides, the charm only lasts for ten hours and then it will go back to how it was. "

I don't know how I could get people in trouble, but I agree anyway.

"Ready to go?" Pansy asks as she stuffs her wand into a small velvet clutch and she winks at me as I slip on the gifted heels. "Let's roll."

I have never been to a club before, so when I was pulled into the large warehouse with the colored lights and revolving dance floor, I stopped and just stared for a few seconds before Daphne snapped me out of my trance. The place was packed and I kept rubbing up against half naked people who were all sweaty and red faced. It was dark… and loud… So loud. It was a little overwhelming and I found myself becoming anxious because of it. Pansy must have sensed my worry because she took my hand. With confidence in every step, she walked us through the maze of bodies towards the tall tables on the second floor.

Millicent Bulstrode, wearing a tight sexy dress, is holding a table for us with one of the Ravenclaw girls I was introduced to at the bonfire. I try not to look disappointed as they wave us down.

"Thanks for saving us seats, Millie," Pansy says as we approach the table.

Millicent took one look at me and sighed.

"Whatever," she replies with a shrug and Pansy narrows her eyes.

"What's got into you tonight?" Pansy asks. I want to listen to their fight, but Daphne grabs my arm.

"Oh, do you see that man right there, Ginny?" she says as she points to the middle aged bartender with a dragon tattoo on his neck.

The bar is on the lower level and takes up the entire wall. Two magicked dragons made of smoke and fire crawl along behind them, lighting the area in red and orange fire that pulses with the music.

"Yes, what about him?" I ask as Pansy and Millicent continue to bicker with each other out of the corner of my eye.

"Oh, isn't he to die for?" she asks as she bounces on her toes. The bartender in question looks up in our direction and she waves at him. His arms are covered in tattoos too. "He gives me free drinks all the time," she says with a smile after he smirks at her before going back to mixing a drink. "I'm going to go see what time he gets off tonight. Do you want to come with me?"

"Um…" I look at all the people down there I'd have to walk through. "No, I think I'll stay right here."

"Okay, I'll be right back." She hands me a small silver purse. "Watch this for me, will you?" she asks as she fixes her hair and rearranges her breasts before walking towards the steps so she can get to him.

"Stop it!" Pansy hisses and I turn back to their conversation once Daphne is out of view. "Just stop talking."

"No," Millicent says with a dangerous scowl on her face. "I don't understand why we have to go out of our way when this was all Draco's—"

"Shut the fuck up," Pansy seethes and Millicent narrows her eyes even more. "Stop talking or I'll shove your drink down your throat."

I feel really uncomfortable right about now.

"Really?" Millicent sneers as Pansy clenches her fist. "Isn't that what your mum does after she's done taking a hit?" Pansy inhales quickly. Apparently, a line had been crossed because even the other friend who was sitting at the table let her eyes go wide. "Does she even know who you are anymore?"

Pansy flares her nostrils and I'm waiting for her to say something back… or even throw a punch. But she doesn't. Instead she picks up her clutch and spins on her heels after sending Millicent the dirtiest look I've ever seen. Then she walks away. Millicent's dark eyes turn to mine and she levels me with a hateful glare as I grip Daphne's purse.

"What makes you so special?" she snaps.

I go to look for Pansy instead of answering.

I find her in the bathroom, trying to fix her makeup with a tissue. I step inside and carefully walk up to the counter. I watch her reflection in the mirror as she dabs the eyeliner from under her eyes. It looks like she's been crying and I bite the corner of my lip as I walk closer.

"Are you alright?" I ask softly and she jumps before exhaling slowly once she realizes it's me.

"Yes, I'm fine," she says shortly as she throws the tissue away and she starts washing her hands. "I'm sorry I left you with that troll… I would have killed her if I stayed a second longer."

"What she said really upset you," I point out. I had seen Pansy get in many fights where she dished out some cruel words and I've seen her take the worst of it too… but I had never seen her look as sad as she does right now.

"Of course, it did," she says tiredly as she dries her hands on a paper towel. "That whore knows my mum is in rehab," she spits out and then she sighs as she looks at me in the mirror. "She's turned into such a bitch since she stopped being fat.".

I bite back my laugh and she smiles when she sees it.

"Are you ready to dance?" she asks after a few seconds of silence. She throws away the paper towel and then takes my hand again. "I am ready to dance."

She pulls me to the dance floor and she immediately starts getting into the rhythm of the music. I'm not half as lucky. I have never just danced like this before and I try not to be awkward about it. I just keep on copying what Pansy is doing until eventually I find my niche. I'm rolling my hips and moving my arms in the air… and I am having a lot of fun doing it. I don't even care if other people are looking at me. I don't care if I'm bad at it or I look stupid. I just like dancing. I look at Pansy and smile until I feel hands on my hips and someone grinding up against my back.

I stiffen and look over my shoulder. It was a guy, a very handsome guy, in fact. He smiles at me. He had to be a couple years older than me… but not as old as the bartender Daphne was flirting with.

"Anton," he says in greeting and I smile.

"Ginny," I answer and I start dancing again until Pansy notices.

She makes a face and comes close to me. Then she taps his shoulder and makes a shooing motion with her hand.

"Off limits," she tells him and I give her a strange look as she glares at him. "Go away." He doesn't move and Pansy takes my arm to pull me behind her, away from dark haired Anton. "Go on. Go find someone else."

He shakes his head before walking off and when Pansy turns towards me, I raise an eyebrow.

"What was that?" I ask.

"What was what?" she asks breathlessly.

"Off limits?" I repeat with a laugh. "I thought he was cute."

"He wasn't cute. I was saving you," she says like I was silly. "Besides, tonight is girl's night. Don't dance like that with anybody else."

"Tell that to Daphne," I laugh as I point to the bar where Daphne is sitting on the counter, letting the bartender take a shot from between her breasts.

"Well…." Pansy trails off and then she laughs as she looks at me. "There is only so much we can do for that one," she says with a smile. "You're innocent little Ginny. We can't corrupt you on the first night out."

I smile at her.

We danced most of the night.

Pansy told me that I shouldn't drink so soon after being sick so she didn't bother trying to sneak me any alcohol, but I didn't really want to anyway. My first and only experience with alcohol had kind of ruined it for me. Daphne got drunk pretty quickly and Pansy went off to get some water when there was a pause in the music. I went to the stairs and leaned against the railing while I waited. Breathless and sweating, I started fanning myself with my hand when I found the air thick and suffocating. A couple of guys approached me, offering to buy me a drink because I "looked so hot" but I told them I had a boyfriend so they would leave me alone. It was girl's night after all.

The building had once been an old potions factory and it still had the painted advertisements on the walls with faded colors and worn out script. I don't have anything else do so I go up the stairs to get a better look. Perfectly Perfect Potions, the adds say. We do the hard work so you don't have to. I find a darkened corner and I lean against the wall, making a face at my feet because they're hurting. I decide to take the boots off… Only for a little bit. Or until Pansy finds me again.

Maybe I'm just not a heel person.

"Want me to buy you a shot?" Millicent approaches me with an ugly scowl on her face and I stand straight, on the defensive. "Oh, wait. You aren't allowed to do that anymore, are you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I say as I slip the boots back on.

"I think you do," she says. Under the dim lighting of the club, her hair looks almost red. She must have dyed it some kind of auburn and I wondered about that as the lights go out and lasers start to dance around the room. "Things are about to get a whole lot worse for you," she says and I give her a dirty look as the green and blue lights pass over her face. The music is so loud now that she bends down to press her lips to my ear so she can say her next insult. "I hope you like being on a tight fucking leash."

Pansy notices us and comes up before I can reply.

She pulls me away from Millicent and gives her a nasty look.

"Don't let her bother you," she snaps. "She's just hungry."

We dance the rest of the night and then leave to eat fish and chips at a midnight diner in Diagon Alley. Millicent doesn't eat anything. She just sits there with a sour face while Daphne and Pansy order more food than they could ever eat. They laugh and gossip and throw food at one another as old timey songs play on the tabletop jukebox. When a song comes on that Daphne likes, she hops up on the table and starts singing it to the amusement of the old man in the next booth. She spins around until she nearly slips and then the waitress makes her get down with a firm glare and a warning that she will be kicked out if she does it again.

"Oh no," Daphne says and she plops next to me with her hand on her heart. "Whatever will I do if I can not come back to this wonderful establishment?"

I smile at her and then grab a couple chips to eat.

I feel eyes on me and I'm prepared to look up and see Millicent glaring at me again- but instead I find Pansy eyeing me curiously. Her head slightly tilted to the side.

"What?" I ask, bringing a hand up to my face to make sure there isn't anything on it.

"You're beautiful," she says. "Did you know that?"

I blush, uncomfortable with the compliment coming from her and the serious way in which she said it.

"So beautiful," Daphne agrees as she puts her arm around my shoulder. "You fit right in with us," she whispers into my ear and then she laughs.

I give her a tight smile and grab a few more chips.

When we're done eating, we walk out into the cool summer night and I look up at the sky. It's cloudy, but I can still see a couple stars shining and it makes me smile. Pansy threads her arm through mine and leans her head on my shoulder.

At first, I'm uncomfortable with the closeness but I don't shrink away because I want her to like me.

Millicent leaves with the other girl- saying something about their curfew while Daphne dances and does pirouettes under the streetlamps.

"Did you really kiss Harry Potter?" Pansy asks after a thoughtful moment.

"No," I admit, glancing her way as she pops her head up.

"So you were lying."

Don't you fucking lie to me.

"Yeah," I admit uncomfortably. "I just didn't like Cho saying that stuff about him."

"Why?" She asks, curious. "Is he your friend?"

"Yes," I say and then realize I'm lying again. "Well, not really. He's Ron's best mate…"

"Then why do you care if Cho Chang thinks he's a bad kisser?"

The answer gets stuck somewhere in my throat.

"I guess… I mean, he just has been through so much," I admit, thinking of his handsome face and how tragedy seems to follow him. "And I think Cho was lying, anyways," I say, making a face when I think of her. "She's just annoying."

Maybe Malfoy should have been harassing her about it and not me.

"You care an awful lot about people who don't care about you."

My eyes flick to hers and I stop walking. She looks me head on, not apologizing and not backing down on her assessment.

"Unless I'm wrong," she says, tilting her head and then putting my thick, heavy hair over my shoulder. "Does Harry Potter care about you?"

No.

I look down and she takes that as my answer.

"It's okay," she whispers, smiling gently. "He's the one missing out."

I give her a small smile and then Daphne comes flouncing over to us, grabbing a street lamp and twirling around it.

"I have the best idea," she says, her cheeks flushed and her hair bouncing golden curls around her face. Older witches pass by us, laughing and talking loudly as they huddle together. "We should go to the Meringue Menagerie. I could really use a piece of that lemon pie right about now."

"Wouldn't it be closed?" I ask, thinking about the fanciful bakery at the heart of Diagon Alley. A place that made animal shaped meringues, pies, and a whole catalog of charmed baked goods that sparkle and move and walk around.

It was always too expensive for us to buy. Mum said we could make the same thing at home for less but she was lying.

We turn right and then cross the street, standing right in front of a beautiful old building that stands by itself on a corner lot. Its wood is painted teal and the square framed windows show designer cakes and cookies moving and walking around in the display case. With a yellow and white awning overhead.

"Daphne's aunt owns it,"Pansy says, matter of fact. "She won't mind."

"Won't mind what?" I ask as Daphne goes over to the front door and opens it with a flick of her wand.

She looks at me and gives me a wrinkled nose smile. "She let me have the password," she whispers like it was funny.

I let myself get pulled into the darkness of the shop. Daphne turns on the light and I blink against it, the brightness hurting my eyes so used to the dark outside. It's a very pale yellow on the inside with curved glass cases full of every different kind of baked sweet treat under refrigerated domes.

Daphne brings out a pie from behind the counter. She says that it is lemon with a whipped rainbow colored meringue swirled on the top. She sits down at one of the metal tables in front of the window and I look around nervously, not feeling completely comfortable with what we're doing.

"It's alright, Ginny," she says, patting the chair beside her. "Come sit."

She hands me a fork and smiles as I sit down. She offers a fork to Pansy, but she declines. She motions for me to take the first bite and I hesitate a second before digging in.

When I taste the lemon on my tongue, I see a burst of color behind my eyelids and I look at Daphne in surprise.

"You've never had something from here, have you?" she says with a pleased smile. "They put little charms in the ingredients. Makes for an overall pleasant eating experience, doesn't it?"

I take another bite. It's like red and blue and pink fireworks going off in my mind. It was such a wonderful thing that I could almost understand why they cost so much.

As we eat, we start talking about our families and our lives.

Pansy keeps asking me a lot of personal questions and she has a straightforward answer for all the questions I ask her which is a nice change from Hermione who shares little and keeps things vague. Pansy's family is old money so her parents don't have to work but Daphne's family is only into a third generation of wealth. Her grandfather had made most of their money in the magic fur trade and he was able to buy his children into high society after some resistance.

"That's why it's so important that I marry well," she says, sighing at the thought of it. "Gotta keep the ball rolling and all that."

"My father knew your mother," Pansy says suddenly and I glance at her. She's still not eating. She sits there with her back straight and her legs crossed. "He said she was in society before the war. Then she married your dad…"

I wipe my lips with a napkin and nod my head.

"I guess my grandparents were well off," I say with a shrug. "But after my mum's brothers died…" I trail off uncomfortably when I think about it. "I'm not exactly sure what happened but they sold their estate and…" I shrug my shoulders, putting down my fork. "I don't know… but, I mean, there was nothing left by the time I came around and I guess when my mum married my dad she was kind of…."

"Ostracized?" Pansy finishes for me and I nod my head again. At least, that's the way my mother tells it. She lost many friends and relationships by marrying below her perceived station.

It's why she hated it all so much

"How did they die?" Daphne asks, her eyes wide and curious. "Your uncles?

"Daphne," Pansy warns, shaking her head but I answer anyway.

"They were murdered by Death Eaters," I say and a silence falls around us. Daphne closes her mouth and looks down at her fork. Pansy stares at me. "During the war," I explain more as I try to imagine what they looked like. I've seen pictures, of course. Of Fabian and Gideon, tall and lanky and handsome, waving and smiling at the camera… but I think it would have been nice to know them. "They were twins. Like Fred and George."

"Oh," Is all Daphne says, looking uncomfortable. "Twins must run in your family, then." She looks at Pansy. "Could you imagine?"

"Imagine what?" I ask, confused by what she means, but she just shrugs.

"I didn't realize you had so many brothers," Daphne says with her chin in her hands. "Are any of them cute?"

I think of Charlie and especially Bill who is considered handsome by most people who know him. I look at Daphne, her blue eyes twinkling from under the overhead lights.

"No," I say because what I do not need is Daphne trying to sleep with one of my brothers.

She pouts and then looks at Pansy.

"Isn't that funny?" she says with a smile, a bit of colorful meringue at the corner of her mouth. "Draco has no siblings and Ginny has six."

"Why is that funny?" I ask. I frown at the thought of Malfoy. Why even bring him up?

"Just pointing it out," she says, glancing at Pansy. "No reason."

"You know, Ginny," Pansy leans forward and grabs my hand. I give her a surprised look. "I want us to be the best of friends."

I resist asking why. Years of being around Ron and his incredibly important friends had made me feel like I was the second choice. Sometimes I felt like even my own mother preferred Harry and Hermione to me. I know that's a silly thought… a selfish one… but I can't help but have it when she goes so far out of her way to make them comfortable. Sometimes I think of Tom Riddle's diary and the poison he whispered into my ear… the worst part was the awful truths he would shine his light upon. I was just someone waiting there when no one else was available. The afterthought. The last option. The burden. I had been trying so hard to come into my own… Use my voice more… Chase my own passions… but it still was never enough. I wasn't smart like Hermione. I wasn't brave like Harry…. and I wasn't important to them like Ron was.

What was I?

Maybe I should just trust that I'm a likable girl who people want to get to know. That's not too far-fetched, is it?

"I'd like that," I say, smiling a little.

Pansy and Daphne share a look and then they both smile at me.

We talk for hours under the soft lighting of the bakery. Witches and wizards watch us through the window as they pass by under a cloudy night time sky. I can't help but think I finally found the companionship I had always longed for… A place that was mine where I could belong with girls who were more like me… but that was a silly thought, wasn't it? I knew the kind of people that Daphne Greengrass and Pansy Parkinson were. They were mean… they were bullies… Their kindness to me was an exception- not the rule. Even Daphne, who came across as adorably silly- had poison in her veins like the rest of them.

Shut your damn mouth.

I look at Pansy. Her dark eyes are watching my face again so I look away, tucking hair behind my ear.

I try not to think about the troubling whispers in my mind that are telling this doesn't make sense. That I'm not good enough or rich enough to ever belong to their friend group…. That at some point the other shoe would drop and this would be revealed for what it truly was. Some kind of elaborate joke to get back at my brother and his friends… But was that just my insecurity talking? I'm not even the main character in my own troubled thoughts.

I try not to let it bother me and I take what the night gives me, grateful for once for being on my own and being seen as a separate person away from my family, and my brothers, and Harry Potter.

I don't get home until three o'clock in the morning and I take a moment to stare at The Burrow, menacing in the darkness, before going inside.

I wait for the yells and disappointed looks from my parents, but they are already asleep. In fact, the house is surprisingly quiet and I smirk at that fact as I carefully creep up the stairs. Once I reach the comfort of my own bedroom, I fall down on the mattress and smile up at the ceiling as I remember the music and the dancing and the beautiful people at the club. I let my duffle bag hit the floor as I smile into the darkness.

The light clicks on and I jump up in a panic, thinking it's my parent's…. but it's just Hermione standing there. I forgot she was sleeping in my room and I sigh as I sit on the edge of the bed to unzip the expensive boots.

"Where have you been?" she asks with an arched eyebrow as she takes in my silver dress with critical eyes. "And why are you dressed like that?"

"I've been out," I say with a shrug as I slide the shoes off. "Are my parents going to kill me tomorrow?" I ask.

She sighs and sits down on her cot. She's wearing her purple plaid pajamas with a matching headband.

"No," she says tiredly. "After you talked to Ron he jumbled out something about friends. I figured you were staying with Luna again so I told them that." She eyes my new dress and shoes again. "Have you been staying with Luna?"

I lean over and unzip my bag, digging around it to find my wand so I can put it on my bedside table.

"I went to a club tonight," I tell her, ignoring her question. "A real club… There was dancing and everything."

"You had fun?" she says and I nod my head.

She leans forward and picks up something off the ground.

"Yes, I had a lot of fun."

"That's good… I'm glad you had a good time…. But don't you think you are a little young to be out at a club until three in the morning?"

I narrow my eyes. All the stuff she gets into with my brother and she wants to tell me I'm too young to have a bit of fun?

"Jesus," she says, glancing up at me. "Was that dress seventy six galleons?" I don't answer. "That's almost four hundred pounds, Ginny!"

"I don't know what that means," I say, getting up and snatching the price tag from her. "It was on sale anyways."

"I thought you were trying to save money–"

"I'm tired," I say before leaving her there to take a shower.

When I get back into the room, the light is off and she's laying on her cot. I know she's not asleep, but I don't bother saying anything as I get dressed in an oversized t-shirt and sweats. I crawl into my bed and slide under my covers, turning my back on her. I smile as I stare at the wall, trying to quiet my brain as I replay everything that happened.

I fall asleep with the music from the club still thumping in my ears and Pansy's dark eyes staring at me in the twinkling moonlight.

---

"Ginny…" I groan and pull the pillow out from under my head so I can cover my ears. "Gin, wake up. Your mum said you had to get up now."

"Just a few more minutes," I mumble tiredly.

I nearly gasp when Hermione yanks the blankets off of me and I move the pillow to glare at her.

"It is one o'clock in the afternoon," she says, trying not to laugh as I rub sleep from my eyes. "Your mum said to wake you up or she was going to take you to St. Mungo's for being in a coma."

"Whatever," I mumble. I stretch out my arms and crack my back.

"Whatever," Hermione repeats with a head shake. "We have chores to do today."

I groan again as I get up.

I wash my face and brush my teeth as Hermione hovers around me like a gnat.

I ignore her the best I can and I answer none of her questions. I get dressed quickly in a cropped shirt and pair of denim short dungarees that Hermione says makes me look like a toddler.

I give her a look but say nothing as I go downstairs.

"I'm glad you decided to join us, Ginny," Mum says when I reach the kitchen. I grab an orange and start peeling it as I sit at the table, blinking sleep out of my eyes. "We have a lot of things to do today so don't get comfortable."

"But it's my day off," I whine.

"Everyone who stays here does chores," she says and I narrow my eyes. "You know that."

"Dad doesn't do chores… I'm the only other person with a job."

The look that she gives me is brutal.

"You think I don't work?" She says with a hand on her hip. "Who do you think cooks all your meals? Who do you think does all the shopping? Cleans all your clothes? Make sure you have everything you need? Who makes your doctor's appointments and takes you all the places you want to go? Hm, who does that?"

I say nothing. I just exhale slowly and give her a look.

"And your father does do chores, little missy. He weeded the garden last week so drop the attitude."

"Fine," I snap tiredly as I eat the orange quickly and wash my hands of the stickiness. "What torture must I endure today?"

"I let you sleep in and you have been playing it pretty loosey goosey with asking for permission to do things," she says in answer to my tone. "There is no need to be hateful when you're already pushing it."

She glances at the clock.

"Your brother and Harry are doing yard work right now," she says as she looks out the window above the sink, pulling back the red checked curtains. "Why don't you bring them something to drink and then you can start cleaning the living room."

"Can't they just drink out of the hose?

"Ginny."

"Fine." I walk over to the fridge. We have lemonade…. I shake off the thought of the hard lemonade I drank and try not to remember the taste of it. I pull the pitcher out as Hermione walks towards me with two glasses full of ice. "Are you coming with me?"

"I need a break," she whispers as she sends a look to my mother. "I've been in this kitchen all day."

"She's a real bear sometimes, isn't she?" I whisper back.

Hermione smiles at me and agrees- but wouldn't dare say it out loud.

We fill the two glasses and the smell makes my stomach turn. I spare my mum one more glance before we go out the back door. The yard is only half way mowed… I see jagged lines through tall grass which I'm sure is Ron's work- he half asses everything. We walk a little further down the hill and I hear Hermione making a noise.

"Oh…" Hermione stops walking and I glance at her before following her eyes.

My brother has his shirt off and he's tucked it into his back pocket as he tries to dislodge a large stick that's stuck in the blades of the lawn mower.

"Fuck," I hear him sigh in frustration as he stands up and kicks the machine with his foot.

"Oh, my." Hermione blushes and then she looks at me with wide eyes.

"Here," I hand her one of the glasses and nudge her shoulder. "Tell him to put his shirt on. He's going to blind someone."

She snorts in laughter and starts walking over to him. "I doubt kicking it helps much, Ron," she says and I watch as he glares at her.

I look around for Harry

He's further down the hill by the woods, wearing a pair of jeans and a Gryffindor t-shirt that has the sleeves cut off. I've seen him practice quidditch in that shirt and I smile at him when he finally notices me. He stops the mower and he takes off his work gloves. He's sweating and his cheeks are flushed from the heat.

"You just wake up?" he asks, a little breathless.

"Sure did," I say, handing him the glass.

He puts the work gloves in his pocket.

"It's so bloody hot out today," he says as he puts the glass up to his forehead. "Why isn't there a spell for yard work?"

"Mum says it's too tedious," I say with a little shrug. He has a few blades of glass on his face and I look at them as he takes off his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose. "You have…." He looks at me and I give him a gentle smile. "There's some grass on your face." I lift my hand to brush them away with my fingers. "Got it," I whisper.

I pull my hand back and he looks over my face. I wonder what it would be like to kiss Harry. Maybe then Draco Malfoy wouldn't call me a liar in front of all of his friends. He's staring down at me so sweetly now and I wonder how I must look at him. I wonder if he thinks I'm pretty or even beautiful like Pansy Parkinson had said. He has sweat on his forehead and it drops down his temple… I watch it roll down his neck and to his chest.

He looks so impossibly good right now and it's doing something strange to my body. I take a step closer just because of the way he's looking at me… but then he suddenly pulls back and puts on his glasses, making a weird face.

"Thanks," he says as he sets down the untouched drink and starts the lawn mower back up.

I feel the disappointment rest heavy in my stomach… and then I become embarrassed for even entertaining the idea. I pick up the glass as he mows around the tree line and glare at his back- annoyed with him and annoyed with myself.

He's the one missing out.

I dump the lemonade out in the grass and stomp back to the house.

I ignore my mother and go to the living room. I start by organizing the random piles of junk that has accumulated and I pick up the discarded socks that Ron throws all over the place. I try not to be embarrassed as I think about Harry and the fact that he literally recoiled from me. I'm the idiot that reads signals wrong. That's not his fault…. But nothing is ever Harry Potter's fault. He's always so perfectly perfect.

I turn on music while I polish the wood and dust the shelves. Hermione comes in behind me not much later with her cheeks red.

I don't ask her about my brother. I don't even care to know.

When we're finished, mum calls us all into the kitchen for a late lunch. I refuse to look at Harry as I glare down at my sandwich. Hermione finishes first and she retires to my bedroom to finish reading a book before my mum can rope her into more chores and Harry then awkwardly leaves the table as well, muttering something about chess…. Leaving me, my mother, and Ron around the table, barely even looking at each other.

Ron gets up to put his plate in the sink and I look when he makes a noise.

"Who is that outside?"

I go to look and smile when I see Pansy and Daphne on bicycles just outside The Burrow's gate.

"Ginny!" Ron yells as I run outside, stilling my excited run into a brisk walk so they can't see how happy I am to see them.

"What are you guys doing here?"

I look over my shoulder to see Ron's furious face in the kitchen window.

Daphne gets off of her bike and smiles at me. She has her hair styled into two loose Dutch braids that lay past each shoulder and her dress is a pale pink dream.

"We were going to come up and knock, but your wards wouldn't let us," she says as she taps the gate for proof. "We're going on a bike trip today and wanted you to come."

I look at Pansy in her green plaid capris and pastel colored polo top as she pushes her sunglasses up to stare at my house. I blush in embarrassment as I look at it too. It's so sad looking compared to her lake home.

"Just give me a second," I say quickly as I run inside, trying not to feel ashamed over things I can't control.

They both looked so posh and pretty…. They always do… but they look especially preppy today. I grab a pair of my white scuffed up trainers and slip them on as Hermione stares at me from her spot on my bed.

"What are you doing?"

"Going outside," I answer.

I brush my hair up into a ponytail and open the top drawer of my vanity- grabbing a blue ribbon from Folk Hills to tie a bow in my hair. The sad version of posh and pretty, I guess.

"Is the bow necessary?" she asks with a little laugh as I put on some mascara.

She wasn't a girly girl. She liked some feminine things- but it was the extras that she thought were frivolous and stupid…. But I liked them and I wouldn't pretend like I didn't anymore.

"Yes."

I put on deodorant and lip gloss before giving Hermione a look. No. I will not feel bad. I leave without saying anything else and I find my mum folding laundry in the den

"I'll be back!" I yell, but she calls me back before I can leave. "Going for a bike ride, is all," I explain so she can't say no.

"Ginny," She levels me with a look as she folds a pair of Ron's underwear. "Perhaps you should invite Hermione to go with you."

"Why? She never asks me to go when she hangs out with Harry and Ron."

"Ginny."

"She wouldn't want to go," I say, crossing my arms. I won't give in. Not this time. "She hates exercise and she's Ron's friend, anyways."

My mom gives me a disappointed look but says nothing else.

I leave and I know I shouldn't feel bad about it, but a part of me does. I have my own friends now... just like Ron wanted…but why do I feel so guilty?

I go to the shed to get my bike out and I groan when I see it. I don't remember it looking this childish. It's pink. A glittering pink, in fact, with a white wicker basket attached to the front… but it's worn down and beaten up from years of hard use. It looks sad- a leftover toy from a forgotten childhood. The worst part is the pink and white streamers that fly out from the handle bars. Wonderful. I start to roll it out of the shed, but the back tire is flat, so I dig through some of my dad's muggle things until I find the air pump. As I'm pumping air into the flat, the door to the shed opens and I squint against the light at Ron.

"You're not really going to go with them, are you?" he asks, looking cross.

I glare down at the tire as I pump more air into it.

"So what if I am?" I ask spitefully, already on the defensive. A part of me knew he wouldn't be happy when he found out about my new friendship, and I was ready for it. "They're my friends."

"Since when?" He asks with his hands on his hips.

"Since I decided I liked them," I tell him harshly and he blinks a few times before shaking his head.

"Ginny…" he says slowly like I was stupid. He lets his arms drop and he approaches me as I put the pump down. "Those girls…. Parkinson and Greengrass… they're mean girls, Ginny."

"You don't even know them," I say as I stand up straight and grab the handlebars so I can steer it away from this shed and from my irritating brother. "They're actually quite nice."

"They're not being nice to you because they like you," he says like I was some idiot who wouldn't know real affection. "Why are you even hanging out with them? How do you know them?"

I shrug. "I started talking to Pansy at work… we just decided to hang out, is all."

"You just decided," he says with a head shake. "That just doesn't happen that way, Ginny. They have to have an alternative motive planned. I know it."

"Is it so unbelievable that people might actually like me?"

"They're probably only hanging out with you to hurt Harry," he says and I give him a hateful look as I go to pass by him, but he puts his foot in front of the tire before I can get outside. "You're like a sister to him. They're probably going to hurt you to get to him."

Like a sister. Hmf.

"Not everything is about Harry Potter!" I yell as I stomp on his foot.

When he jumps back, I take the opportunity to bolt out of the shed with my brows furrowed in anger and my shoulder bent down on the defense.

Jerk face.

"Ginny!" he calls after me as I approach my friends with stiff and angry steps. "Ginny!"

"Leave me alone!" I yell over my shoulder and when I turn back to Daphne and Pansy they both are eyeing me with curious tilts of their heads.

I unlatch the gate and walk my bike out, moving outside of the shimmering ward that keeps us protected.

"Everything alright?" Pansy asks carefully.

"Yes, it's fine," I answer as I swing my leg over the seat so I can balance on the pedals.

"Oh, Ginny," Daphne says with a smile, oblivious to my anger. "I love your bike!" she looks at it longingly and then back at her own blue mountain bike that looks brand new. "It's pink and everything. Pansy, look," she says as she nods to her friend. "It sparkles!"

"That's enough of that," Pansy snaps as she jumps on her bike and kicks up the kick stand. "Follow me, Gin."

I kick off and start pedaling after her. I'm not as stable at first, but I eventually get my bearings. I don't think I've been on a bike since…. since I was twelve? It felt good to ride after so many years of broom flying and I close my eyes for a moment, letting the wind whip my pony tail behind me.

I have no idea where we are going, so I let Pansy and Daphne lead as we follow the dirt roads that wind through the small forest on the outskirts of my village. When we head towards Yellow Springs, I figure we are probably going to ride through their neighborhood.

"So, do you like anyone, Ginny?" Pansy asks casually as we enter the very secluded part of Yellow Springs surrounded by large trees and rolling hills.

"What do you mean?" I ask as we pass by the first house. It's a white mansion with a tennis court in the side yard. I shake my head and turn away.

"Boys," she says with a laugh as Daphne weaves back and forth ahead of us. "Do you have a crush we should know about?"

I shrug as I think of Harry and my decision not to like him anymore. Then I think of the way he shot me down earlier today and I feel my ears getting hot.

"Not really."

"Not really? Does that leave room for possibility?" she pushes forward, eyeing me critically. "You dated Dean Thomas recently, didn't you?"

"Uh, yeah," I say, because I didn't think she would even know that. "But that didn't last long. We just didn't like each other like that."

Actually, it was me who didn't like him like that. He seemed pretty bummed when I broke up with him but I just couldn't pretend anymore.

She nods her head and turns back to the road as we pass more large houses. Daphne points to one as we ride by it. "That's Zabini's," she calls back to us. "Do you want to see if he's home right now, Pans?" Daphne asks as she turns her bike around so she can fall into line beside us.

"Not right now," Pansy says, but I do notice her looking over her shoulder at the house before we turn down another road.

"Do you all have summer houses here?" I ask uncomfortably.

"Just about," Pansy answers. "There are only a few of us who don't."

"Me included," Daphne smiles at me as she raises one hand. "I'm poor."

Pansy shoots her a look and then she looks embarrassed as she looks away. I know that was for my benefit because I am, in fact, poor.

"But we're always staying at each other's places so it really doesn't matter," she finishes.

We keep riding, but when we get towards a large wrought iron gate, I stop my bike and stare at the house beyond.

"That," I say as I rest my feet on the ground. "Is a beautiful home."

Daphne and Pansy stop their bikes beside mine and they share a look as I admire the house. It's large like the others, but this one had a grandness to it the others did not. It looked like a log cabin, only immense in size. With different levels, curved windows, and curling balconies around each side. It faced the hillside with the lake around its back set between large evergreen trees and impeccable landscaping that had blooming flowers of all different colors. It was built behind a stone retaining wall and there was a winding path that led to the house made up of sparkling white stones.

"You should see Malfoy Manor," Pansy smirks from my side. "It's ten times as grand as this."

"This is Draco's?" I ask softly and she nods her head.

Figures the biggest and most beautiful house belongs to the Malfoy's.

Life is not fair.

Suddenly, there is a pop behind us and we all turn around to see Malfoy standing there, wearing a well fitted black suit and tie.

When he sees us, he removes his sunglasses.

"What are you doing?" he asks as he puts his wand in his pocket and walks towards the gate. We move our bikes to let him through.

"Ginny was just admiring your home," Pansy says smugly as she smiles at him. I worry myself with my pink streamers and try not to make eye contact with him. "Were you at the ministry?" she asks curiously as he punches a few numbers into the combination on the gate.

He nods.

"Alright, well, we won't keep you." Pansy and Draco share a look before his eyes slide to mine. I look away quickly, feeling my face flush. "See you later," she says as she takes off on her bike.

"Bye, Draco!" Daphne sings before taking off as well.

I put my feet on the pedals to follow, but they took off so quickly and my bike is messing up. It feels like something has a hold of my handle bars and I fight with it for a few yards before I lose control and I end up falling off of it. My foot gets twisted up in the chain and I land hard on my left knee.

"Ow," I whine as I kick the bike to the side. I look around for Pansy and Daphne but they're nowhere in sight. I hiss as I look down at my knee. It's all scuffed up and bleeding and there is dirt and small pebbles sticking to it. "Oh, ow," I repeat as my eyes water.

I blow on it to make it feel better and I stand up- finding that I can't put any weight on my ankle without it smarting. I sit down for a moment, looking at the slightly swollen ankle with a frustrated frown.

"Are you alright?" A shadow falls over me and I look up to see Malfoy standing above, his sunglasses pushed to the top of his head and pulling the hair away from his face.

"I'm fine," I say as I wipe my tears away. I stand up and limp to my bike.

"Come inside," he says and I look at him over my shoulder. He loosens his tie and unbuttons the first couple buttons by his collar. "I'll heal it."

"No," I say as I start walking the bike along the road. I just need to walk it off. That's it... but it feels like I twisted my ankle and I have to hop on my good foot to take the pain away.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm fine."

"You're being stubborn," he says with a sigh.

I ignore him and just keep limping until it hurts too much. I stop and close my eyes, inhaling deeply through my nose as I try not to focus on the pain. Where did Pansy and Daphne go? I look around but I can't see them. How did they not notice I wasn't with them anymore?

"Come inside with me," he says and I look at him again "Unless you're going to hobble the whole way home."

I look around. I have no idea where I am or how to get back… and my ankle really does hurt.

"Alright," I tell him stiffly, angry that I agreed. "But make it fast."

He laughs, a short and sharp laugh. He walks towards me and grabs the handle bars of my bike, his hands running along the top of mine. I jerk my hands back and he smirks like it was funny. I limp along behind him, annoyed and in pain as he walks my bike to the front gate. He punches in his ward code and looks back at me as the gate slowly opens.

"Think you can make it?" he asks, glancing down at my swollen ankle.

What's the alternative?

"I'm fine," I say stiffly.

I follow him up the white stone pathway to his house, wincing a few times but trying not to show how bad it is. He puts my bike against the porch and opens the front door for me as I try to make my way up the stairs.

"Do you want me to carry you?" he asks, amused by my distress.

"Absolutely not," I say, giving him a mean look as I make my way up through gritted teeth.

He laughs again.

I try not to look at anything on the inside because I know I'll just fall in love with it and feel bad about my own life, so I ignore everything as I follow him into the kitchen. There's a breakfast nook past a rather elaborate formal dining room. He sets his sunglasses on the table and removes his jacket. He throws it over one of the chairs before patting the top of the table.

"Take a seat," he says as he rolls up his sleeves.

I obey and hop on the table as I look around. The kitchen is beautiful. It had slate colored walls and dark cherry wood cabinets. The backsplash was a strange textured black stone that I had never seen before. It seemed to be cut out of one slab and it had an odd sparkling quality to it… glittering in the sun that came in from the impossibly tall windows. The lights that hang down from the ceiling are encased in frosted glass and surrounded by a strange wooden cage that slightly spins as if on an axis.

It all looked so modern and clean. It reminded me of something you'd see in a magazine. Some perfectly set up room with a bowl of lemons on the counter and perfectly measured ingredients all lined in a perfect row on a floating wooden shelf. It was nothing like the cluttered mess that was my kitchen at home. Where there were always dishes in the sink and stacks of mail on the countertop waiting to be opened. The scuffed up cabinets and mismatched appliances were something my mum had once called "lived in". It didn't look like anyone lived here… so perfectly styled was the room… even the plants looked fake.

"My mother likes to cook when we're here," he says, explaining something I never asked as he catches me looking at the herbs growing on the window sill above the sink.

I have to think about why he would say such a thing as he takes out a vial of blue liquid from one of the cabinets. But then… of course it would make sense because they have house elves. There would really be no reason for a kitchen of this size and beauty… Not when they had literal servants making their meals out of sight like the elves at Hogwarts. I wonder what it would be like to have house elves. Would it be sad? Hermione would hate it, of course, and maybe I would too.

There's a home decorating magazine on the table beside me so I grab it to distract myself.

"You're awfully trusting," he says and I glance at him over the magazine. "To just come into my house like this. I could kill you and no one would know."

I make a face but don't reply as I look down at the magazine and turn the page. Then I stop, looking up at the kitchen again with its open floor plan and stainless steel appliances. I lift the magazine and realize the featured kitchen of the month is the one I'm currently sitting in.

The New Age Witch- is written at the top and I close the magazine- throwing it to the side when Draco comes back. He scoots a chair out right in front of me and takes a seat.

"Luckily for you," he says as he grabs my ankle to pull it to his lap. "Those aren't my intentions."

He unties my trainer and slips it off my foot. I feel nervous now… my breath is shaky. I worry if my foot smells weird because I wasn't wearing socks or if my leg is smooth enough because I haven't shaved in a couple days. He looks down at my toes before glancing at me.

"You have such delicate looking feet," he notices before picking up the bottle of glowing liquid.

He uncorks the lid and dabs a little bit of it onto a rag. Then he puts his hand on the back of my knee to pull my leg more towards him. "This is going to sting for a moment."

When he goes to put the cloth to my skin, I block him with my hand and shake my head.

"What?" he says, irritated.

"I don't…." I clear my throat and push his hand back. "I can do it."

"No," is all he says as he holds my gaze with his intense eyes. "Do you trust me?"

"No," I answer honestly and he smirks.

"That's probably best," he says as he grabs my knee again. "Come on," he coaxes. "Be a good girl and let daddy fix it."

Oh, no. I shake my head, but I let him do it anyway and I yelp when the liquid burns the scrape.

"It only hurts for a moment," he says as he cleans off the blood and debris that's still clinging to my skin. "This makes sure that it won't get infected. You don't want it to get infected, do you?"

He waits for my answer, so I shake my head.

"Didn't think so."

I watch him as he works and I bite my lower lip when he takes out his wand. He runs it over my hurt ankle and says a spell I've never heard of. He explains he's had so many sprained ankles training for quidditch that he became a master at it. It instantly feels better and I let out a little sigh at the warmness that flows through my body because of his healing charm. It's a tingly feeling- like how your muscles feel sometimes when you've been sitting too long and suddenly stand up.

He glances up at me again, his eyes dancing over my face. He doesn't have freckles like I do. His skin is impossibly clear-but he does have one small mole on his left cheek. I stare at it and then I look into his eyes.

"Is your mum a good cook?" I ask to distract myself, thinking of his regal looking mother in the kitchen covered in flour and sticky dough.

The image is a funny one and I bite my lip to cover a smile.

"Let's just say that some dishes are more successful than others."

There was something so endearing about imagining Draco Malfoy eating the food that his mother had made…. But why is that endearing? That's just a normal fucking thing. My mom makes dinner all the time. I don't need to humanize him anymore.

I look down and crack my ankle a few times, smiling.

"All better?" he asks.

"All better," I whisper, swallowing hard. He still has my foot on his lap and he puts it to the side as he leans forward. No, I don't like that. "I should go…"

I don't move right away and then he looks down. My legs are slightly open and I close them quickly when I realize what he's looking at.

"What is this you're wearing?" He asks, his fingers running over the strap of my dungarees. "You look like a farmer." He tilts his head, for a moment thoughtful. "Do you live on a farm?"

He seems genuinely curious- which makes it worse.

I narrow my eyes and push his hand off of me.

"I like your ribbon," he says after a heavy pause. He looks at the blue ribbon tied in my hair and then he stands up. The chair scrapes the ground behind him as he reaches out and unties the bow.

"That's mine."

"It's mine now," he says, a smile tilting the corner of his lip. "Do you see how that works?" He eyes me for a moment. "This is the ribbon you wear at Folk Hills," he points out, curling the smooth material around his finger. "What is it for again?"

"Blood status," I answer even though the look he's giving me says he already knew that.

"Ah, yes," he says with an amused smile. "And what does this color mean?"

I try to understand what he's playing at. I try to read his expression but it's hard for me to figure out what he wants and I look away quickly when I find the eye contact unnerving.

"You already know," I say, frowning.

"Remind me."

When I don't say anything, he takes my arm and turns it up. He runs his thumb over my wrist where you can see the blue lines of the veins under my pale skin. After a moment, his eyes flick to mine. This time he is serious… any hint of a smile has left his face and I find myself leaning away from it because I know what could follow.

"Why do you wear a blue ribbon?" he asks darkly.

"Because…" I lick my lips and look down because I don't like the way he's looking at me. I pull my hand back so he has to let it go and I rub it with my opposite hand like his touch hurt me in some way. "It's just a stupid thing they make us do because snooty people like to know things that aren't any of their business."

He doesn't move or say anything so I manage to look at him again. I don't understand the expression on his face. He balls up the ribbon and puts it in his pocket before stepping back.

"I need to leave," I say nervously, hopping from the table once he gives me the room to do so. I put my shoe back on and go to walk away but stop just outside the kitchen, looking at him over my shoulder. He looks so good standing there, dressed in all black against such a well curated space. He fits right in. He hardly looked like a real person either. I don't like how that makes me feel so I look away. "Thanks for helping me."

I don't wait for a reply. I start walking to the front door and I jog down the stairs, resisting the urge to run. My heart is beating so incredibly fast. I grab my bike and ride it down to the gate that opens so slowly. I impatiently bob my feet waiting for it, cursing under my breath. I feel better once I'm on the road with the gate locked behind me. I take a few deep breaths as I look around, trying to decide where I should go next.

Pansy and Daphne are still nowhere in sight. Maybe I can trace back the way we came and find my way home….

I go to kick off but realize my shoe is untied so I stop a few yards down and slide off. I steady my bike and get off to tie my shoe, willing myself not to look back. Do not look at that house. Do not think of Draco Malfoy. Do not think of anything that just happened.

Just forget it.

I get back on the bike and push up the kickstand with my foot. I go to take off again, but someone says my name and I look over my shoulder to see Malfoy walking steadily towards me. I furrow my brows at the way he's looking at me… he seems almost angry. Why is he looking at me like that? What did I do?

"What–"

He grabs my ponytail and yanks my head back to press his lips to mine.

He pulls back after a moment and I'm too shocked to say anything. I just stare up at him with my breath coming out in short little gasps.

He smirks and then leans down again.

This time he's gentler and he loosens his grip on my pony tail as he deepens the kiss. At first I don't move… I'm too shocked- but when he brings his other hand up to my face I find myself kissing him back. It's thrilling, in a way. Like the Ferris Wheel at Yellow Springs that flings you into the air- Malfoy was also a dangerous thing wrapped in a pretty package…. and he is such a good kisser. Why does that not surprise me? He seems proficient in most things. A quick study and almost as studious as Hermione- Draco was intelligent despite being a terrible person. Unlike most boys our age- he wanted to do well. He wanted to excel in sports and academics and in most things he decided to do. Which made his friendships with Crabbe and Goyle so confusing because they were actual idiots.

He keeps my head place with his hand gripping my ponytail. He is controlled in his movements. Much more confident than what I was used to. It was almost intimidating. Unlike the messy fumbles with Dean Thomas that were always too much or too little… and never quite right, I realized with some alarm that something was happening inside of me. Suddenly I am all too aware of the bike seat between my legs and his hand on my neck. No. No, thank you. I remember myself and put my hand on his chest to push him back.

"Don't," I say breathlessly, my face feeling hot. "Don't do that."

"Why not? Did you not like it?" he asks, giving me a look like he knew what was happening to me.

Draco Malfoy was also smug.

"You're dating Cho Chang," is all I say as he stares down at my lips, his cheeks slightly flushed.

I had a million different reasons- but that's the only one I could come up with?

What is wrong with me?

"I'm not dating anyone."

"Now who's lying?" I say as I shake his hand from my hair.

He just needs to step back and not touch me anymore and then things will all be fine.

His other hand is still on my neck and he runs his thumb over my lips.

"You're a pureblooded witch. Why don't you act like it?"

I'm not sure if he's insulting me. I don't know what he means so I narrow my eyes. I try to turn away, but his hand stays firm on my jaw.

"You know," he starts, his eyes lingering on my lips as he ignores my anger. "If you told me you wanted me- I wouldn't be with anyone else."

"I don't care who you're with," I say sharply.

Why would he even say a thing like that? He is nothing to me. Absolutely nothing.

He's thoughtful again. He doesn't match my tone and instead he raises his eyebrows.

"You will."

I pull away from him and lick my burning lips. He smirks at me before he turns around and goes back to his house. I watch him from the corner of my eyes as the gate closes behind him and then I turn away, looking down at the handlebars as my stomach does unpleasant things.

"There you are, Ginny," Daphne says as they ride back to me on their bikes. "We assumed you were with us. We couldn't find you!"

"I was right here," I say stiffly.

The way they're both looking at me… I don't know, but it's odd. Did they just see what happened?

"Are you okay?" Pansy asks with a raised eyebrow. "You look a little flustered," she says and Daphne giggles.

"I'm fine," I say quickly as I put my head down again and start wheeling my bike forward so I can ride it properly.

"We can stop by my place," Pansy says as we start riding again. "Have a snack or something. I'm getting hungry."

"I think…" I trail off as the wind whips through my hair. "I think I'm going to go home."

Neither of them protests and we ride to my house in silence. I ignore their eyes on me and try not to give away how uncomfortable I am. I wave them off and then look back at The Burrow with a strange feeling settling in my stomach as I replay what happened in my mind. I punch in the code and walk my bike down the path to the house, letting it lay in the grass as I sit on the porch step.

The front door opens, but I don't turn around.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asks as she sits down beside me.

"I'm fine," I lie because I don't know how I feel.

"If you're sure," she whispers. I can feel her looking at me but I can't face her right now. I feel like what happened is written all over my face and I don't need her asking me any more questions.

"What happened to your ribbon?"

"What?" I ask, glancing at her. She motions to my hair. "Oh." I turn away as I think about Draco Malfoy. "It must have come undone," I lie.

I look out at the road, past the gate and past the fields wondering what the hell I've gotten myself into. I tell myself I don't care. That I will go through life pretending like that kiss never happened and resolve to never tell another soul about it. It will now be my shameful secret. Why is it shameful? I know why. I bring a hand up to my neck, my stomach turning uncomfortably as I remember the way he tasted and the force in which he pulled my hair back. I shift uncomfortably by Hermione as she starts telling me a story about helping my dad paint his miniature models.

I don't care.

I keep telling myself that over and over again so I can make it real… I don't care but I can't help but hear his voice… the deep and confident voice as he stares down at me with his silver sky eyes slightly narrowed.

I don't care, I tell the memory.

You will, it says because the memory knows better. You. will.