As of Yet
Theme # 21: Langlock


"Ginny!"

She had been on her way to Arithmancy when Harry's thundering tones stopped her, midway.

"Hey, Harry. Um, you alright?"

Harry nodded with a jerk of his head, before instantly saying, "What were you and Zabini talking about, before Potions?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "We weren't talking - we were shouting at each other. I told him I knew Langlock if he didn't, couldn't, wouldn't shut up - and then Snape came and everything."

Harry's breathing become a little more even. "I see."

"Why're you so worried anyway?" Ginny asked, eyebrow raised.

Harry shrugged. "You know."

"No. I don't know."

Harry frowned. "I've heard he's interested in you."

"I'm a blood traitor, remember, Harry?"

"Oh yeah..." Harry mumbled. Then he said, "Well, you'll be late for class. Get going."

Ginny smiled. "I guess. See you, Harry."

She had barely taken two steps when -

"Ginny!"

She stopped. "Yes?"

"You and Zabini don't have anything between you, right?"

"No, Harry," she said tersely. "We don't have anything between us."

She had to smile when he had left, though. She hadn't lied: They didn't anything between them - Yet.

The Simple Truth
Theme # 23: Levicorpus


"Don't you dare call her that again, Malfoy!" Ron half jumped at Draco, wand in his hand, just as Harry shouted "Levicorpus!" Seconds later, Malfoy was hanging upside down by his ankle in mid-air, and Ron was still cursing heavily while Hermione shouted, "Let him down, let him down! Please. You'll get us into so much trouble. I don't care what he calls me, you'll lose us all house points."

"What's happening here?"

Snape had arrived on the scene. Hermione went pale, then sighed in a rather I-told-you-so manner, as Draco was brought neatly to the ground with a mere flick of Snape's wand.

"They assaulted me, Professor -" Draco began at once.

Ron's ears were redder than his hair, but it was Ginny who cut across Draco's words. "He called Hermione a mud-"

"Silence." Snape raised his hand. "Ten points from Gryffindor for interrupting where you are not asked to, Miss Weasley." He looked at the group of Slytherins around them, and said,

"Blaise! You tell. What happened?"

Ginny looked up at him, for a silent moment, and their eyes met.

"Draco started it, Professor," Blaise said quietly.

Tied Up Notions
Theme # 32: Petrificus Totalus


"LEAVE ME ALONE."

Ginny's voice was angry, and Ron's was angrier when he replied.

"You don't have to go around kissing Dean in some stupid, unused classroom!"

"Just because you have the emotional capability of a three year old -"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

"Ron!" Ginny had no time to duck. Yet, oddly enough, the spell bounced off, as if it had met an invisible barrier. Moments later, Ron was flying backwards, bound up by thick, clinging ropes.

She looked around, her mind blank and vacant. She was very dimly aware that she had not done any of this, and that she was now raising her wand to untie Ron but, that aside, of nothing else.

"I didn't do it -" she began, as Ron sprang to his feet, stomping off. This little trace of apology was wiped away instantly at this action of his, and she was once again angry at his conduct and his incessant picking on her - what was it to him who she kissed? She marched off, too.

Blaise, watching the scene from behind one of the many long vases lining the hallway, wanted to tie up Dean just as he had tied up Ron, now.

Non-Top Box Advantages
Theme # 40: Sonorus


Ludo Bagman pointed his wand at his throat, and said, his voice strong and clear, "Sonorus." Seconds later, his words were booming across the stands, as the Quidditch World Cup commenced.

Ginny Weasley, sitting in the top box with her friends and family - Fred, George, Ron, Charlie, Bill, Percy, Harry, Ron, Hermione, not to mention Mr. Weasley - could not help feeling vibrancy and excitement cruising through each and every part of her body. To think they were in the top box! She could hardly believe her luck.

Her bright red hair flew behind her in the wind, and she hooted and clapped and cheered as the players zoomed out on to the Quidditch pitch, blurs of colour - She had her bets on who would win.

Opposite her, the stands continued and, there, several rows beneath, Blaise Zabini smiled to himself. He had forced his father to stay away from there - from getting seats in the top box. They had all thought it had no advantages but, as far as he was concerned, the advantages here were many.

- The first and last being that he could see Ginny Weasley better, and watch her every move through his omniculars without her knowing.

Study Sessions – Or not?
Theme # 25: Mobilicorpus


Poor Harry. Ginny could not help feeling for him as the third task grew nearer and nearer, and his anxiety mounted. He was learning spells and jinxes and charms of all sorts, and the least she could do was help find him some more. That was how he made it sound, anyway.

So here she was in the library, pouring over some of thickest tomes she had ever come across in her entire life. One of the many spells and charms within caught her eye: Mobilicorpus. Not a bad one. She placed the book aside, on top of an ever-increasing pile of similar books, meaning to lend it to Harry.

"Helping boyfriend Potter, are we, Weasley?"

She knew that voice. Refusing to look up, she kept her eyes on the book she was now skimming through. Blaise was not one to give up so easily though, and when he sat down next to her, it became impossible for her to ignore him: the perfume he was wearing was too appealing.

"I'm trying to do some work here, Zabini," she said, through gritted teeth.

"So am I, Weasley."

She did not get up. He did not get up, either.

A Counter-Spell
Theme # 27: Muffliato


It was just after classes had ended, and the weather outside looked more than just plain inviting: it looked delicious. Very, Very delicious.

It was the sort of weather Ginny had always, always loved to bits and pieces, for the sun was hidden beneath a blanket of thick, thick, grey clouds that were just ready to rain - In fact, something of a a very light drizzle had already begun. The winds were strong and swift, and the scent of drenched mud was everywhere.

She skipped outside, into the grounds, only to find Orla by the lake. She half spun as she exclaimed brightly, vivid, red hair all over her face:

"I've finally found the perfect way to have a conversation without Zabini eavesdropping and hearing everything he shouldn't be!"

Orla looked up delightedly. "Excellent! What is it?"

"It's a spell," Ginny confided. "Harry mentioned it to me a couple of days ago, it's brilliant. No one will be able to hear us except, you know, the two of us. It's Muffliato."

From behind the rosebushes nearby emerged a tall, handsome boy with black hair and brown eyes.

"Excellent, Weasley. I just found a counter-spell."

Scenes of Quidditch
Theme # 35: Quietus


For the first time in his life, Blaise Zabini found himself seated in the top box at the Quidditch Pitch at Hogwarts. Lee Jordan had left, and everyone needed a new announcer: Him.

How he had landed the place, he himself did not know. All he knew was that it was good to be there. The match was Gryffindor against Hufflepuff, and Ginny Wealey was playing chaser - All the more reason for him to feel good.

"Weasley with the Quaffle. Interesting how its red clashes with her hair, no?"

"Blaise!" McGonagall's voice had more than just a slight touch of warning to it.

"Sorry, Professor. Weasley passes to -"


"Quietus."

Blaise removed his wand from his throat, able to speak normally again. The Gryffindor team was celebrating in the grounds, and so he was surprised when he found Ginny next to him.

"What are you doing here, Weasel?" he asked curtly.

Ginny's face flushed. "Looking for Professor McGonagall," she lied flatly. "You were absolutely stupid with the commentary, by the way."

Blaise's eyes narrowed. "That's not what you wanted to say."

He turned around and left. Ginny sighed – Why could they never give each other a chance?

Because Black is Pink
Theme # 31: Orchideous


Valentine’s Day.

It was here, and now everything was red. Red – and pink. Very red and pink. Red and pink dresses with red and pink ties and red and pink flowers.

– Annoying.

Ginny had never been the chocolate-and-flower teenage girl, just as she had never been the red—and-pink teenage girl. So it came as no surprise to anyone that – quite as a sign of rebellion – she was wearing black today. Quite a morbid black, in fact.

“But, Gin, why not green or blue?” Hermione protested. “You look terrorizing!”

“Black,” Ginny said solemnly. “Is the new pink.”


“Oey, Weasley!”

She had been waiting for this voice all day long, even though she would never admit it to anyone – not even her own self. She turned, with her black dress robes and her black high heels and the black, black kohl in her eyes.

“Yes?”

“There’s something I wanted to give you, Weasel,” Blaise drawled coldly.

Ginny flinched. Too cold for romanticism. “And that is, Zabini?”

“Orchideous.” A bunch of morbid black roses sprouted from the end of Blaise’s wand. He held them out.

“They go along with your terror, you know. Happy Valentine’s.”

Very Dark and Very Romantic
Theme # 26: Morsmordre


It was after dark, and Ginny sat by a large, jagged rock in the ground, reading by the light of a solitary, dim lantern.

She could not read it in the common room, for fear of being discovered: This one book was her secret. She had been too tempted at Flourish and Blotts not to buy it, and secretly bring it to school with her. 'Smuggling items,' her mother might call it.

And now she was scared.

Flipping through Dark Ages of Darkness, Ginny winced. Badly. The text was dark enough to suit the the title, but the pictures included - were that even possible - were even darker. A shiver ran up her spine, as she traced the words Morsmordre: The Dark Mark with her finger.

"Where did you get that book from?"

It all happened in a second: Ginny screamed, the book fell to the ground with a loud, thundering noise, and she had jumped, scared to death, right into the arms of whoever it was.

"You should have told me darkness made you this romantic before, Weasley. I would brought you my whole lot of books: I have nothing but dark titles," Blaise said, smirking.

Ginny blushed beetroot red.

Forever Safe - I
Theme # 46: Tergeo


She was shivering uncontrollably, now. She had known the fight against the dark would be a long, hard one, but she had never thought this could happen.

Slumped against the wall of her prison, she could not help feeling scared and vulnerable: she was wandless, and at the mercy of the death eaters.

Mum. Dad. Where are you?

It felt as if she would never be free. They would torture her, kill her - she knew it. There was blood somewhere on her forehead.

The door opened, and then closed again. She heard a voice. "Tergeo."

The blood was siphoned off her forehead, the pain vanished. Then Blaise said, "Are you alright?"

"Za - Blaise?"

All those days... She was reminded of Hogwarts again. She had not seen him, even heard of him for so, so long. When he made no reply, she said,

"No. I'm not alright."

She did not know why, but she could not help it: throwing herself into his arms, she let the tears flow.

Biting his lip, Blaise held her closer to himself - He had only just got to know of their latest prisoner.

"As long as I'm around, you're safe, Gin. I promise."

Forever Safe - II
Theme # 28: Nox


Realizing what had just happened, Ginny suddenly pulled away. "You're a death eater," she said, shaken.

The door opened: Rodolphus entered, wand lit. "What does the Dark Lord want?" he asked coldly.

"He wants her to tell everything," Blaise said quietly. "If she doesn't - make her."

"You want me to?" Rodolphus asked, eyes glinting.

"No. I'm responsible for this, I can do it alone."

"Nox."

The darkness returned, Rodolphus left.

Blaise turned to Ginny. "Can you stand up?" he asked quietly.

"I - What are you going to do with me?" her voice was a whisper.

Blaise sighed. "I'm going to get you out of here."

"How can I trust you?"

"Your choice. Die or let me help you."

Ginny bit her lip. "I thought you were supposed to answer for me. Vol - He'd be furious with you."

"I can bear it - Come on, we don't have time."

Ginny looked up at him, into his eyes. Voldemort would torture him... "I'm not going anywhere," she said firmly.

"Don't argue," was all Blaise said in response, and she knew it was no use: He was going to get her out, and get her out safe.

The Gnome and Zabini
Theme # 47: Twitchy Ears Hex


The gnomes were getting worse than ever now. They had made a hole in the large, flutterby bush Mrs. Weasley had planted in the garden last week, and were now running wildly about the whole place.

"We need to do something about them," Ron declared, through a mouthful of porridge.

"Ron, don't talk with your mouth full," Ginny and Mrs. Weasley said together.

"Why? Does it matter?" Fred, George and Ron said, all at the same time.

"Yes!" Mrs. Weasley and Ginny replied.

Mr. Weasley picked up his fork, attacking his chocolate muffin. Then he cleared his throat. "Umm... they do seem to attract more butterflies, for some reason. And butterflies remind me of... cake. Good to see, good to eat."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Dad, have you been reading that stupid storybook you have in your room, again? The Butterfly, the Cake and the Twitchy Ears Hex?"

As Mr. Weasley coloured and Mrs. Weasley raised an eyebrow, Ginny giggled.

"Too bad there's nothing like The Gnome, the Blaise Zabini and the Twitchy Ears Hex," she said brightly. "Because they remind me of him - if you see them: trouble. If you don't: trouble."

- Family breakfasts were fun.

Firewhisky Versus Butterbeer
Theme # 30: Oppugno


"Blaise Zabini - you ruin my day."

This declaration came from Ginny Weasley, wife of the Captain of the Montrose Magpies, Blaise Zabini. She stood in the middle of the ballroom, looking amazing in her brilliant white and blue dress, and glaring at him over the top of her slender, stylish spectacles.

Blaise grinned. "I know, my love."

Ginny glared at him again. "I said I wanted butterbeer. Not firewhisky."

"I know, my love."

"Then why in the name of the world did you -"

"- Bring you firewhisky, you mean?"

"Yes!"

"Because it would make you angry. And you do look so delicious when angry."

"Oppugno Aves!"

But Blaise Zabini's shield charm was too strong for the conjuring spell aimed at him by the once best duelling artist of Hogwarts. He grinned as she stamped her foot impatiently on the neat, ballroom floor.

"Firewhisky then, Gin?"

"No."

She turned around, clearly angry, arms crossed against her chest and looking anything but pleased with him. Still grinning, Blaise laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Champagne?"

"Blaise, I said no."

"Can I tell you something?"

"What the heck is your problem? Can't you -"

Best way to shut her up - Blaise kissed her.

Spells Gone Wrong
Theme # 45: Tarantallegra


When all was said and done, Auror training was a bout of enthusiasm and energy. Fun, one might call it - but, of course, that was only looking at the bright side. It was hard, too - extremely so. There were times when they - those chosen for the training - would have to stay awake the whole night through, because it was "a very effective way to set right their effectiveness," as Harry called it.

"I sometimes wish I'd never joined up," Ginny complained, after a particularly hard day of practice. They had learned a complex, new spell today, and she was tired of trying it again and again on every safe-to-charm object within sight - cushions, old, broken lamps, empty cardboard boxes, socks, bits of parchment - as she had been told to.

So, when she ran into Blaise Zabini at the entrance of the Ministry after spending the whole day cramped up in a hot, stifling, suffocating room, brushing up her magical skills for no other reason than having been selected for the Auror training programme, and he asked her, in his most teasing way, "A display of your newest spell then, Weasley," all she had to say was:

"Tarantallegra!"

Career Counselling for the Future
Theme # 29: Obliviate


“Have a seat, Miss Weasley.”

A flustered Ginny promptly sat down in front of Professor McGonagall’s desk.

“You have an outstanding each in Transfiguration, Charms, Potions and Care of Magical Creatures?” McGonagall began seriously.

Ginny nodded, blushing.

“Have you thought of pursuing a career as a healer?”

Ginny shook her head. “I’ve sometimes thought of being an obliviator. But – well maybe that’s just because I love the sound of the spell. Erm, you know, obliviate.”

McGonagall raised an eyebrow. From the way Ginny was speaking, it seemed she was – not herself. Oddly flustered, rather.

“Has anything upset you, Miss Weasley?”

“Erm, no, Professor.”


Leaving the office, Ginny could not help feeling relieved. Professor McGonagall was so – questioning. But then, she had been pretty flustered. She had nearly forgotten the cause of her early fluster when she turned a corner – and ran into Blaise.

“What career path have we decided, then, Weasley?” he asked coolly.

Ginny blushed. “Not your problem.”

“You know, I’m telling you again what I told you before you entered McGonagall’s office: you should opt for Care of Magical Creatures, N.E.W.T level – You always did say I was an animal.”

Rather Wrong Directions
Theme # 33: Point Mee


Blaise could not believe it. After so many years of having laughed, lived, teased, broken down and built himself up at Hogwarts, he had lost his way.

– Unbelievable.

He must have taken that trick staircase he was always careful to avoid. Well, whatever the case, he was lost, now. With a scowl on his face, he placed his wand on his palm.

“Point me.”

The wand spun, pointing north. He knew there was that corridor that led to the dungeons, to the west. Wand aloft, he made his way over to it, nearly walking into a faded door.

Always new placed to discover in Hogwarts, no?

He pushed it open – and grimaced. Inside stood Ginny Weasley – with Michael Corner. They were holding hands, but there was something very hasty about they way they were doing so, and Blaise was perfectly sure they had been kissing before his entrance.

“Disturbing a love scene, am I?” he asked coldly, his eyes lingering on Ginny.

Ginny looked down, as if afraid to look up. “I – Let’s go Michael.”

His eyes followed them, until they had left. He quietly made his way back to his common room, anything and everything else absolutely forgotten.

A Different Kind of Love Scene
Theme # 34: Protego


"How was your love scene then, blood traitor?"

Ginny knew who it was and, to say the least, she had expected this. She had not, however, expected him to replace the usual 'Weasley' he called her by with the more offending 'blood traitor.' Something would not let her come back with an adequate retort, though.

"I asked you something, blood traitor."

Ginny looked up. "Leave me alone, Zabini," she snapped, though not without quite an effort.

"Why? You want pretty boy Michael to stay with you, do you?" Blaise snapped, his anger hitting boiling point.

Ginny flushed, both with fury and with embarrassment. "It's not your business whom I go out with, Zabini," she said tersely. "At least Michael realizes I have a first name. Why don't you just leave me alone? You make me SICK."

She had suddenly whipped out her wand, and shot a hex his way. Blaise jumped, drawing out his own. "Protego."

Her hex bounced off, and hit a shelf. There was thud as the books fell down, and the librarian came running over.

"What's happening here?" she demaned loudly.

"Nothing," Blaise snapped, storming off. Behind him, Ginny had tears in her eyes.

In Unlit Meetings
Theme # 36: Reducto


It was past midnight and, as was her custom, Ginny Weasley was out of bed. It was past midnight and it was windy and, as was her custom, Ginny Weasley was out of bed.

There was just one, tiny difference today - though, to Ginny, it felt like all the difference in the world:

- She was with Blaise.

They were walking, and they had no idea where to, or why. She had come out, and he had come out, and he had asked her if she would fancy a walk. And she had said yes. Why?

She had no idea.

A line of tangled bushes blocked their way, now. Ginny stood there, wondering how to go on, but Blaise did not even have to think: his wand, too used to his incantations-on-impulse skills, moved by itself, as did his lips:

"Reducto."

Two bushes parted, and they walked through. After what seemed like ages, Ginny finally said,

"Zabini, what are we doing?"

Blaise did not look at her. He looked, instead, at the unlit sky: There was no moon. "I'm wondering that myself, Weasley. Any ideas?"

"I think we should head back to the castle, now," Ginny replied quietly.

Sparks of Love
Theme # 37: Relashio


I think we should head back to the castle, now.

The words stung. "Why?" Blaise asked. "You don't want to stay with me - is that it?"

"N-no," Ginny said, uncertainly. "It's not that - Zabini, we're supposed to hate each other!" she burst out. "We can't even call each other by our first names, what are we doing out here?"

"It's not my fault we can't - You're a Gryffindor," Blaise said coldly. "That's your fault."

It was Ginny's turn to be stung. "Don't you dare -" she said fiercely. "I don't even know why I'm bothering being with you. Goodbye."

She marched off, both angry and hurt and, sinking into bed, buried her face in her pillow. Minutes later, though, it was too much: she dressed again, and left her dormitory.


He had known she would return. He was sure, too, she was looking for him. Quietly, Blaise raised his wand.

"Relashio."

A jet of green sparks shot from the end of it. He leaned back against the tree-trunk, calm: if she had seen them, well and good. If not - well, she could just find him for herself.

No Country for Cheering Charms
Theme # 38: Rictusempra


"I hate cheering charms," Blaise declared to the common room at large, storming off into the boy's dormitory the moment he was in there. They had had them in Charms class, earlier today, and the effect had still not worn off.

What made them so annoying was the fact that, try as he might, he could not stop looking absolutely happy, as if Christmas had come ten months earlier, or as if he was the King of the underworld, or something similar. What made them so annoying was the fact that, even though he had done his best to dodge everything and everybody on his way to his common room, he had still been asked by an annoying gaggle of second year Huffelpuffs if someone had just cast Rictusempra half a dozen times on him. What made them so annoying was the fact that, even though his broom had just crashed into a tree and he was more than just a little aggravated over the incident, he still looked as if he was brimming over with delight.

- And what made them so annoying was the fact that, try as he might, he could not be rude to Ginny Weasley.

Notes of Significance
Theme # 43: SpeRevelio


It had been a long, long, tiring day. Ginny was sure she had woken up on the wrong side of the bed, that morning - she could not be sure because, when her eyes had opened, she had been on the floor, tangled up in her bedsheets.

Then there was the first Quidditch match of the season, against Slytherin. Blaise had rammed himself into her twice, and once she had nearly fallen off her broom. Then he had 'accidentally' whacked the quaffle into her, resulting in her present state of tousled hair and messy robes, and the scar on her forehead.

All she wanted to do, now, was to sink into bed. But she couldn't: homework was mounting. She opened her bag, to draw out her Potions book - and a piece of parchment fell into her lap. She turned it over: No text. But it had a beautiful scent, a scent that reminded her of -

- Blaise.

"SpeRevelio," she said quietly, tapping it with her wand. Words appeared, at once:

Your lips, they look inviting. Your eyes, they look delicious. You hands, they look beautiful. Your hair and robes and that scar on your forehead - looks like I did it.

Their First and Second Years
Theme # 44: Stupefy


"Get out of my way this instant."

Ginny's voice was not its usual fierce: instead, it was scared. Draco Malfoy refused to follow her so-called order, laughing at this attempt at courage, instead.

"Nope. Let's see - Red hair and a third rate, hand-me-down robe. You must be a Weasley, eh?"

She was shaking inside, at the moment, and she was sure they could see it, too. This was the first year Ginny: in years to come, she would become the person whom no Slytherin, not even Malfoy or his cronies, would dare to pick on but, for now, she was not that sort. She was small and scared, and she felt it.

"G-get out of m-my way," Ginny stammered.

"Aww, the poor firstie's scared," Pansy Parkinson squealed, in a terrible imitation of Ginny: After all, even when she was scared to death, Ginny could not sound half as bad as Pansy - even if she tried. With a giggle at her own joke, Pansy raised her wand.

"Petri -"

"Stupefy."

The wand flew out of Pansy's hand as a tall, black-haired boy stepped into the corridor.

"Leave her alone," Blaise said firmly.

Memories of Old
Theme # 48: Unbreakable Vow


It was lunch time at the Burrow, and it was in the summer vacations. There were too many people around, so the table had been moved into the garden. They were all now talking of childhood memories.

"Fred and George tried to enter Ron into an Unbreakable Vow once," Charlie recalled. "Dad was so angry when he found out."

Harry grinned appreciatively at the twins, who gave him a thumbs-up in response.

"Blimey," Ron said suddenly. "I was just thinking of when I started Hogwarts, and I just realized how perfect I recall some of those memories. Remember that 'duel' you were supposed to have with Malfoy, Harry?"

"Oh yeah," Harry said, picking up the fork he had just laid down, once again. "And Norbert. Norberta, I mean," he added, as Hagrid looked up at once, and opened his mouth to correct Harry's mistake.

"Why so quiet, Ginny?" Hermione asked, nudging her friend.

"Wha-?" Ginny looked up, clearly startled.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "What are you thinking of?"

Ginny quickly shook her head. "Nothing. Remember that time we -"

Inside, she was still thinking of the second year Blaise: shorter than the present one, maybe, but no less appealing.

Bubblegum Pink
Theme # 50: Waddiwasi


Arrghh...

Blaise immediately removed his hands from the door he had been about to open. A wad of pink bubblegum had been stuck firmly to the keyhole, and it had nearly come off - on to his finger.

He had been heading towards one of the many abandoned classrooms in Hogwarts, thinking of completing his homework in a place that was not as noisy as the common room. But now, he was here, and the annoying wad of gum was here, too.

"Waddiwasi," he said, wand aloft, scowling. Immediately, there was the sound of the gum shooting out of the keyhole, and flopping on to the ground. He shook his head, pretty sure that the gum had not been there a second ago.

Strange, he could not help thinking. He looked around, just to make sure there was no one in the vicinity: There was not. With a shrug, he turned back to the door: only to see another wad of gum in the keyhole.

"What the -?"

There was the sound of giggles, and then the sound of light footsteps as someone ran away, laughing. A sudden smile crossed Blaise's face.

Ginny Weasley: You could never get rid of her.

Love: The Red With The Black
Theme # 49: Wingardium Leviosa


He was walking away. Ginny felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, that had nothing to do with hunger. They were at King Cross, ready to go back home - and he was walking away.

It had been his last year, and Ginny knew she would not have any reason to see him again, now. Blaise Zabini was walking away, into a life that would have no more of Ginny Weasley.

She acted on impulse. "Wingardium Leviosa."

His trunk levitated into the air, then crashed back on to the ground. Blaise halted. And she was running. When she reached him, her hair was a mess.

"I -"

"You did that?" he cut across.

"Yes. I - I wanted to talk to you."

"Sure," Blaise said coolly. "Go on."

Now that she had said it, now that he had replied - she could not. It was too hard, too difficult. "I -"

"Yes?" He sounded testy.

She looked up at him, he looked down at her, their eyes met, the brown with the brown - and then Blaise had pulled her into an embrace, and kissed her.

"Did you want to say something of that sort?" he asked calmly, pulling away.

"Yes," Ginny replied, breathlessly.