Walking On Broken Glass

"I'm living in an empty room

With all the windows smashed.

And I've got so little left to lose

That it feels just like I'm walking on broken glass."

-- Annie Lennox

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Chapter One

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"Pass the sausage," Harry said absently while reviewing his Transfiguration notes.

At the sound of his sleepy voice, Ginny grabbed the platter and handed it to him.

There really wasn't anything like Harry in the morning. His hair was in complete disarray (more than usual, that is) and his clothes were hopelessly wrinkled. Those emerald green eyes of his were half open, blinking against the light, as he tried to make out his own scratchy handwriting.

It was comforting to have him next to her. Only second to having breakfast at the Burrow.

"How's the studying coming?" she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He looked up from his papers and gave her a grin. "Horribly." Harry leaned over and kissed her cheek. "But seeing you always makes it better."

"You're just trying to make up for all the neglect," Ginny said with a pout.

He looked thoughtful. "Yeah." Harry ducked as she reached out to swat him on the head. Then he kissed her again, laughing against her lips. "But what else would a good boyfriend do?"

"Lord only knows," Ginny mumbled as he turned back to his notes.

She propped her chin on her hand and gave a tired sigh. She wasn't sure how much longer she could take this. He had N.E.W.T.s this year and she knew Harry needed to study. But combine that with Quidditch practice and all of his regular homework, and you've got a boyfriend you never get a chance to talk to. They hadn't had a conversation that lasted longer than about five minutes since mid-summer. Which was, incidentally, when Hermione had started him and Ron on a strict study schedule.

Ginny and Hermione had never been very close, and it was moments like these that she remembered why.

Christmas break marked their one year anniversary and it wasn't looking like they'd be spending it together. His DADA book was probably much more entertaining anyhow.

Just as that thought crossed her mind, she saw someone race into the Great Hall. It was a Ravenclaw third year and she looked very much out of breath. After a quick word to Professor Dumbledore, the girl all but collapsed at her table.

A buzz of chatter rippled through the hall as Dumbledore stood. Harry, Hermione and Ron all looked up from their papers.

Great, Ginny though, lamely. An old man can catch my boyfriend's attention but I can't.

"Quiet," Dumbledore said, his commanding voice resonating in the large hall. "All classes have been canceled for the day."

All of the students cheered except for Hermione, who looked like a child that had lost its balloon. Ginny almost felt sorry for her.

Dumbledore raised his arms and silence fell. "No one may leave the castle and I advise traveling in groups."

"I wonder what that was all about," Hermione mused once everyone had quieted down.

Ron turned to Harry with a knowing grin. "How's about we go find out for you?"

"Great idea," Harry said, jumping up. He placed a messy kiss on Ginny's temple before they both went running from the hall.

"But we've got work to do!" Hermione called after them.

Ginny patted her on the arm. "You should take a break today, Herm," she told her. "Why don't you go play chess in the common room?"

"But we can't take a break," Hermione insisted. "We take our N.E.W.T.s in seven months. And I've already agreed to take a break for Halloween and Christmas day!"

At this point Ginny was really becoming concerned. Hermione had always been a little study crazy but at this rate she may have an aneurysm.

"Why don't you go on up to your dormitory and rest," Ginny said slowly.

Hermione let out a long sigh. "I'm going crazy aren't I?"

She smiled. "Just a little."

"You're right," Hermione said, nodding. "I'll go up to the common room." She stood up and gathered her books. "Are you coming?"

"Oh, I'll meet you up there later," Ginny assured her. "I just have to get a few things from the library."

At the sound of her favorite word, Hermione's eyes lit up. "Dumbledore said we should stay together," she reminded her. "Why don't I go with you?"

Under normal circumstances she would have loved the company, and Hermione did always know where the best novels were. But Ginny was afraid that if she brought her in, they might never get out.

"It's probably only a few loose redcaps," Ginny reasoned. "I'll be fine."

When Ginny get to the library she tried to find her books quickly, afraid that Hermione might come down looking for her if she took too long. So once Astrology for the Advanced was tucked safely in her arms she made a beeline for the door.

And as she rushed past the last bookcase, who should happen to step right out in front of her but Draco Malfoy.

"Why me?" Ginny mumbled, bending down to pick up her books. As she reached for the last volume, a polished black boot nudged it toward her.

She flipped her hair back from her face so she could glance up at Draco. "Thanks for all the help," she said, sarcastically.

He offered a hand to help her up, which she promptly ignored. "Anytime."

Ginny had never really minded Draco. He'd picked on her occasionally but as she had six older brothers, she was used to being teased. So they basically ignored each other and that was that.

It did pain her to see the things he used to do to Harry. But ever since fifth year, when his horrible father had been hauled off to Azkaban for his connections with the Death Eaters, he'd stopped verbally attacking people for no good reason. He and Ron got into spats every once in a while, but it was usually Ron's fault anyhow.

Now that she was standing face to face with him she realized just how much he'd changed over the years. When he was younger he'd been a sickly thing, all yellow hair and starched robes. But at seventeen, he was the very antithesis of her beloved Harry.

From his painfully fair complexion and fine blonde hair, which was in perfect condition of course, to his impeccable posture and overpriced robes, Draco Malfoy was everything Harry wasn't.

They were about the same height and both had a lean build, being Seekers. But that was really the only similarity. Ginny was certain she could tell them apart in the dark.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd watch where you're going from now on, Weasley," Draco continued. "You've wrinkled my robes."

Ginny extended herself to full height, which was only about 5' 3", before shrugging her own robes back into place . "You ran into me."

"No," Draco said, his tone ever-patient. "You ran into me. If you had noted that the maximum speed in a school zone is thirty-two kilometers per hour, this never would have happened."

In the six years she'd attended Hogwarts, that sarcastic tone of his hadn't changed a bit. "Well if you hadn't stepped right out in front of me, knocked all my books down and not helped me pick them up, and then insisted on chastising me for wrinkling your outfit, I would be in my common room by now," Ginny informed him. "But unfortunately what's done is done and we all have to make the best of it."

"I will do no such thing." His patience was definitely wearing thin now. "I deserve an apology, and by God I'll get one if I have to turn you upside down and shake it out of you!"

Ginny couldn't help but giggle. Which caused Draco's anger to fade somewhat as he tried to figure out what exactly was so funny.

"Well that right there was a terrifying display of rage," she said, her voice serious but here eyes twinkling mercilessly. "I don't know about you but I'll be hearing that one in my nightmares for weeks to come."

He gave her a slightly miffed look before recomposing himself. Draco loathed embarrassment. It had always felt so unnatural and tended to disrupt the ever fluid pattern of his entire day.

"But really, you Gryffindors are always flying at me from some direction," he continued, his eyes now twinkling with the force of containing a grin. "Not that anyone can blame you. Me being the blinding sex god that I am."

"Oh, honestly." Ginny set her books on the table next to her and pulled out her wand, pointing them at Draco's robes. "Exporrigo," she muttered.

He ran a hand down the now wrinkle-free fabric and smiled smugly.

Without giving him room for another word, she said, "Now if you'll excuse me I have somewhere to be." And quickly made her way past him.