Matters of Blood and Connection

Chapter 1: Different Sides

She gathered all of her books and stepped out into the hall. Her brown eyes focused on the couple near one of the windows and she felt a tremor slide through her hand, and she unclenched her fingers to relax the muscles, causing everything she was holding to fall from her and onto the floor. She bent down and started to pick the papers up and looked up and down the halls, her eyes falling on the couple by the window again. She narrowed her eyes as the boy smiled and pressed himself closer to the blonde, nuzzling her neck softly. A giggle erupted from her.

Ginny stood, feeling the twitch in her hand start again, so she tucked her hand in the pocket of her robes and headed back to Gryffindor Tower. Just as she reached the Entrance Hall, Ginny stopped and looked around, vaguely wondering why she suddenly felt uneasy. It soon came apparent, however, when she felt someone touch her shoulder, causing her to jump. When she tried to brush off the person behind her, she heard him growl softly.

"You dropped this," said the boy as Ginny turned around.

She knew he associated with the rest of the Slytherins; he was tall and slim with slanted cheekbones and dark eyes. If Ginny didn't know him by his remarks and friends, she might have thought he was friendly. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. He was very cunning in his ways, she had seen it, and now he stood in front of her, holding a notebook with her name scribbled on it.

Ginny reached out and plucked the book from his hand and said. "Thank you, Zabini."

He squinted at her, his expression confused. "You know me?" he asked.

"I know you," Ginny nodded. "You're a Slytherin."

"And you're a Gryffindor. More importantly..." he said, glancing at her. "You're a Weasley. The only girl of six brothers, am I right?" Ginny blinked at him and felt another tremor start in her hand. It twitched in her robes and Blaise stared at it. "Is your hand all right?" he asked, his voice low.

"It's fine," she said, stepping back as he reached a hand out. "How did you know about my brothers?" she wondered.

Blaise smiled and pushed a hand through his dark hair, his eyes dancing with amusement as he looked at her. "I hear things from people."

"You mean you hear that rat Malfoy bitching about how he's more superior to my family?" Ginny countered back with a frown. She dragged a hand through her red hair and shook her head. "He's unbelievable."

A slow chuckle came from the Slytherin and he stared at her. "Why, Weasley, I didn't know you carried such hatred for Draco."

It was Ginny's turn to laugh, and after she was through, she saw Blaise watching her slightly, a smirk on his lips now. "You can't stand there and say you didn't know I hated him. I've been taught to despise the Malfoys, just like he's been taught to hate us."

"Lucius Malfoy is a manipulator," he said grimly.

Ginny had been playing with a piece of her hair and not entirely listening until he mentioned something about Mr. Malfoy, then she looked up and said, "I hate that man. He's been nothing but a thorn in my father's side since he started at the Ministry."

"Just think of how Lucius feels," Blaise said.

"I don't care how he feels!" Ginny shouted. "As far as I'm concerned they can both take a flying leap off a fucking-"

"What was that, Weasley?" came a voice from behind her. Ginny saw Blaise's face break out into a huge grin as she whirled around and blinked.

Draco Malfoy stood there, clearly torn between cursing her and walking away, because she was barely worth it. His fingers twitched and he wanted to reach for his wand, but knew that if he did, someone would happen upon them and send them to Professor Snape, or worse, McGonagall.

"I was just saying how much I hate your family, Malfoy," said the petite girl confidentially. She didn't look afraid of him at all. In fact, she looked rather proud of herself to be able to stand there with such a smirk.

"My family is-"

"-so much better than mine, yeah, so you keep telling me. But I don't see it. All I see is a snotty little boy who curses anyone to get his way, a woman who looks like she can't stand the sight of her family, and a man who has killed thousands of innocent people for fun. So, tell me, Malfoy - how exactly are you better than us?"

There was a low whistle from behind her and Blaise said, "I think she's got you there."

Draco's complexion had paled even more as he glared at the little Weasley. She had grown a backbone, apparently, over the summer, and it pissed him off that he let her talk that way about his parents, never mind himself. He let out a low growl and brushed a hand through his shaggy blond hair, his gray eyes cold.

"Who do you think you are?" Draco asked as he reached into his robes for his wand. He found it quickly and as he pulled it out, he stared at her, his eyes wide. She had beaten him to it, her own wand pointed at his face.

"You don't scare me," Ginny said quietly, her eyes narrowed.

"Clearly," said Draco arrogantly as he took a step forward, glaring down at her. "You never answered my question, little Weasley."

"What was that?" asked Ginny, staring up at him with a smirk. I didn't hear what you asked over your being so egotistical just now." She watched his eyes as they widened and he looked about ready to slap her.

Draco's lips twitched slightly as he reached out and grabbed her wrist, his grip a little loose, but still enough to hold her in place. He leaned in close and she could see how tired he had become since the year began. "I asked you who you thought you were..." he said softly.

Ginny blinked at him but didn't yank away. "I think I'm a good person, Malfoy. I don't hurt innocent people or act like I'm better than anyone else, because I'm not."

With that, she walked away from him and Blaise, a small smile on her lips.

Draco stared after her and frowned as Blaise came up beside him.

"Well," Blaise said, "that was interesting."

Draco nodded in agreement as he looked at the retreating figure of the girl-weasel.