Allstar

Ginny stepped into the brisk wind and shook her hair back, letting the breeze ruffle through her stifling school robes. It felt good to get outside, away from the musty classrooms. Away from inquiring minds, she thought crossly. She'd had no peace all day; everyone had heard about her break-up with Harry and it seemed they all had something to say about it. What bothered Ginny the most was not that her friends were concerned for her but that none of them understood why she'd broken off the relationship. In fact, most of them seemed to think she should try to make up with Harry! As if, Ginny thought, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Lavender Brown at least had been happy - smug was more like it, actually - but she'd seemed to think that Harry had dumped Ginny. While Ginny had taken great pleasure in setting her straight, it hadn't made up for all the other idiotic statements she'd had to put up with all day.

But Ginny, you two were so cute together!

But Ginny, didn't you have a huge crush on him last year?

But Ginny, how could you dump Harry Potter?

But Ginny....But Ginny...

Ginny snarled. If anything, all the protestations had only made her more resolute in her decision. She was never going to get back together with Harry. At that moment, she wasn't sure she even wanted to date anyone ever again. Maybe I could be a nun, she reflected. But black really isn't my colour. Maybe not. Ginny glanced down and noticed that she'd been absentmindedly shredding the leaves off a nearby bush. Damn, she thought, I came out here to forget about all the idiots inside. I really need to relax.

"Shredding leaves, Weasley?" an all-too-familiar voice drawled. "Sounds like a nervous habit. You might want to get that checked out." Ginny glared at Draco, foot tapping impatiently.

"If there's anyone around here who ought to have a nervous habit, Malfoy, it would be you."

"Oh?" he raised a contemptuous eyebrow. "And why is that?"

"Because," Ginny growled, "if you don't start leaving me alone, my brothers will make sure that you have more than enough reason to be nervous." Draco laughed.

"Is that supposed to be a threat? Listen, Weasley," he said, shaking his head in mock sympathy, "you're going to have to do better than that."

"And I suppose you're going to demonstrate the proper way of threatening someone, is that right Malfoy? Well, it stands to reason that you'd know how." Ginny stood with her arms crossed and hoped she'd achieved the nonchalant 'go on, impress me' look she'd seen her brother Charlie use so successfully.

"Of course," Draco said lightly. "Now since you're female, red-haired, shorter than me and a Weasley, you'd want to go about it somewhat differently than I would, being male, blond and a Malfoy. He shifted his position so that he was standing with his feet a bit farther apart, his arms crossed and his chin raised. When he spoke, his voice was quiet but had an edge that made Ginny straighten where she stood. "So, where I might say, 'Crabbe, you imbecile, if you don't shape up I'll have you shipped to St Mungo's', "you," and here he shifted again, relaxing his posture and placing one hand on his hip, "would want something more along the lines of...oh...'Fred, if you put fizzing whizbees in my oatmeal once more, I will personally see to it that you never become a father'." Ginny burst out laughing at his perfect impression of her 'angry voice'. Draco started to laugh with her, but stopped abruptly. Ginny looked up to see his eyes cloud over and his mouth tighten.

"Draco?" she said uncertainly, glancing behind her. It seemed, however, that Draco's glare was directed at her.

"So what are you going to do for spending money now that you don't have Potter paying for the privilege of dating you?" Ginny gaped at the sudden, cruel twist in his voice. "Is that what you're doing talking to me? Looking for bigger fish? Eh?" Draco stepped towards Ginny angrily and she started backwards, breath catching in her throat. "I won't fall for it, Weasley!" He grabbed her shoulder and shook her. "I won't let you play your tricks on me! I swear to you, you will not get away with it!"

Ginny closed her eyes in fright and braced herself for the blow she was certain would come. Instead, there was a scuffling sound, and Draco released her shoulder. She opened her eyes to find Harry throwing himself on the taller boy and punching him with all the force he could muster. Draco was giving as good as he got and the two boys were soon rolling on the cold November ground.

Hermione rushed up, panting harshly. "Harry!" she gasped, "what in Merlin's name do you think you're doing? Harry!" Ginny caught her eyes and shook her head.

"I don't think he's listening, Hermione." The older girl rummaged through her pockets and produced her wand.

"That much is obvious," she muttered. "Um...Incendio!" A stream of blue fire shot from her wand and ignited on Harry's robes. A moment later, he rolled away from Draco, cursing. After putting out the fire, he glared at Hermione.

"What was that for, eh?" he demanded.

"For fighting," Hermione replied primly. "Anyway, I was aiming for Malfoy's robes, but how was I to direct it properly with you two rolling around like that?" They continued to argue and Ginny looked around for Draco. He was leaning against a tree, catching his breath. And staring at her. Ginny tried to look away but her eyes kept drifting back to the bruise that was blossoming on his cheekbone. He caught her gaze and held it. After looking at her intently for a length of time that Ginny deemed much too long, he mouthed "Later" at her and disappeared into the extensive gardens. Ginny glanced back to Harry and Hermione and found that they were winding up their argument. Wanting to distract them - not from following Draco of course, but from their argument - she looked over their heads and said loudly, "Hullo, Hagrid!"

Harry and Hermione's heads snapped up. Ginny caught Hermione's eye and gave her a significant look. Hermione nodded. "You two go back to the common room," she ordered. "I'll distract Hagrid. Go on!" She made a shooing motion at Harry, who was fixing her with a blank stare.

"I don't see Hagrid," he said.

"Look, he's right over there," Hermione said, gesturing vaguely to her left. "You don't want to explain why you were fighting, do you? Go on, before he sees you!" Shaking his head, Harry complied. Ginny gave Hermione a grateful smile and followed him, but not before her friend had managed to give her a pointed look. Clearly, she would have to explain her actions to Hermione later on.

* * *

Harry climbed through the portrait hole before Ginny and headed for his dorm. He had a pounding headache - he suspected it was from one of Malfoy's better-aimed blows - and all he wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep for a week. He also had a sneaking suspicion that Ginny was angry with him as she hadn't said a word the whole walk back to Gryffindor Tower. He had almost reached the stairs leading to the boys' dorms when a cutting voice stopped him in his tracks.

"You are not going to disappear on me, Harry." Harry risked a glance behind him. Ginny was standing with her arms folded, glaring at him. He swallowed uneasily.

"Listen, Ginny," he said, turning to face her, "I've got a splitting headache here. Whatever it is, could we discuss it later?"

"No," Ginny replied. "We're going to discuss it right now. What was it," and here her voice became dangerously soft, "that possessed you to interfere in my discussion with D--Malfoy?" Harry stared, dumbfounded. Had she been about to call Malfoy by his first name? Ginny cleared her throat and Harry snapped to attention.

"Right. Er--Ginny! He was attacking you! Of course I interfered!" Ginny's gaze had turned murderous and Harry wondered wildly what he'd said wrong.

"Of course you interfered?" Her voice was no longer soft. "I'm not sure I follow you, Harry. Why was intervening such an obvious course for you?" Harry looked at her uncertainly.

"Ginny, I saw what he was doing to you; he had you by the shoulder. He was shaking you, for Merlin's sake! Why is it strange for me to want to protect you? Even though we aren't--I mean, it would be the same for--that is--" Harry broke off his protestations as Ginny advanced on him, eyes glinting.

"You wanted to protect me," she spat. "You thought I was in danger? That I couldn't take care of myself? You thought I need your help?" She was inches away from Harry now and he backed up convulsively.

"Well, Ginny, really! He's bigger than you, he's a Slytherin, he's a Malfoy, you don't know what he could do to you!"

"Oh, and I suppose you know exactly what he might do to me, do you? Harry, you don't even know him. There's a lot more to Draco than you've ever bothered to find out. So don't you go telling me that I don't know what he's capable of. I know a hell of a lot more than you do, and I am more than able to take care of myself. I don't need you. Is that clear? I'm sick of you interfering in my life. I didn't break up with you so you could follow me around, spy on private conversations and intrude on my personal business. Just--stay away, Harry." Ginny slumped against an armchair, breathing heavily. Harry was standing absolutely still, one thought running circles through his mind.

"Since when are you and Malfoy on first name basis?" Ginny met Harry's appalled gaze with her own challenging glare.

"Since it's none of your business, Harry. How many times do I have to say this? Whatever I choose to do or not do, with Draco or anyone else, is none of your concern."

"But Ginny! He's a Slytherin! He's the enemy, you don't just go palling around with people like him! You of all people should know what his family's like, your father's been trying to prove that Lucius Malfoy is a Death Eater for years! Look, I wouldn't care if you wanted to go around with Seamus, or Dean, or Justin Finch-Fletchly or--or Padma Patil, if you swung that way! But this isn't a normal person we're talking about, this is a Malfoy, a Slytherin, a despicable, conniving git. No matter what he's led you to believe, he'll end up stabbing you in the back. He's not worth your time, Ginny."

"This...isn't a normal person we're talking about," Ginny repeated slowly. "But we aren't talking about Draco. Or at least, I'm not. I'm talking about the fact that you are no longer a part of my life and I don't want you interfering in it any more. Obviously, I wasn't clear enough." Ginny gripped Harry's wrist. He winced as her nails dug into his flesh, but she didn't appear to notice. "First of all, Draco hasn't led me to believe anything, except that he thinks I'm too good for you." Harry's jaw dropped. "Secondly, what Draco and I talk about is a non-issue here. It is none. Of. Your. Business. Is that clear? Thirdly, if you ever bring his name up again, I will-" the corner of Ginny's mouth twitched, leaving Harry to wonder what fond memory she could possibly be recalling. "Well," she continued, "suffice it to say that you will regret it. A lot," she stressed, digging her nails into Harry's wrist even harder for emphasis. Finally, she let go and stepped back. "Do you understand me, Harry?" Harry looked up from staring at his wrist, where four crescents of blood had appeared.

"Yes," he stated, "I think you've made yourself quite clear." Ginny looked at him closely and gave a satisfied nod.

"Good. I'm off, then. I've had enough of you." Harry watched her climb back through the portrait hole, somehow graceful even in her anger. The portrait swung shut and Harry glanced down at his wrist, which was still bleeding. Thoughtfully, Harry touched one of the cuts. It stung and he stared at it reproachfully. Harry eventually shook off his apathy and headed towards his dorm. He wondered if adding iron supplements to his diet would have him feeling more alert.