The Lion and The Serpent: A Love Story ❤️

Chapter 1 - Strange Comfort

Ginny POV

I sat down in the library and got my books out. It was going to be a long evening. I still needed to finish my muggle studies essay and I hadn't even begun to think about my potions essay. I don't know how anyone could possibly have a social life whilst studying for NEWTS, and I was only in sixth year!!

Just as I was trying to figure out what to write about everlasting elixirs, Hermione walked in and sat down next to me,

"Ugh, being head girl is more tiring than you think!" She groaned

"I'm sure it has its perks" i giggled " You know, having your own bathroom must be nice!" I sighed enviously, Hermione just sighed,

"There's a book on Advanced Potion making by Libatius Borage, which has some useful notes on everlasting elixirs. It's just over there I'll get it for you" she said, helping me without me having to ask.

After three quarters of an hour, I had finished my potions essay with Hermione's help, and I had an extra inch than I needed!

"You should really go to bed now ginny, it's getting quite late!"

"Yeah I know, I just need to practice the aguamenti charm before bed, professor Flitwick said we need to have perfected it by tomorrow!" I groaned

"No ginny, you need to go to bed! You can do it tomorrow first thing, I know you don't have anything first thing!"

"I have quidditch practice!"

"Ginny Weasley, you go to bed now. You can do your charms homework tomorrow morning, because as head girl, I am banning you from quidditch practice for 2 weeks."

"Hermione?! We have a game in two weeks! You can't do that!"

"Yes I can, your work is more important that quidditch! If you can't realise that and still put quidditch before work then I'll speak to professor McGonagol and get you taken off the team. Permanently."

I grabbed my books and ran from the library, tears streaming down my face,

How dare she? I kept running until I found a quiet corridor, and then I sat down and cried. Quidditch was all I had that I really loved! Couldn't Hermione see that? The next two weeks were going to be as dull as dishwater.

Just then I heard footsteps approaching. I tried to pull myself together and wiped my tears away.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I looked up to see Blaise Zabini with an anxious frown on his face.

"Nothing. Go away." I said putting on my hardest face,

"Now, weirdly enough, I don't believe you. People don't sit alone in corridors crying if nothing is wrong. C'mon, tell me what's wrong?"

"Why do you care?" I mumbled "I'm Gryffindor remember? Not a Slimy Slytherin like you."

"Ooh....ouch, a slimy Slytherin! That's a new one!" He chuckled "Look, I don't care that you're in Gryffindor, you're clearly upset! I'm just trying to be nice! Look come on, just tell me what's wrong and tomorrow we can go back to hating each other ok?"

I grinned, he somehow had a way of making me laugh even when I felt awful,

"You'd just think I'm being pathetic"

"Oh. I know what's wrong" his face grew serious, "You've broken a nail haven't you? Look we can get through this its not the end of the world, well it is the end of the-"

"Hermione has banned me from quidditch for two weeks, cos I wasn't doing my work"

"Ouch, I thought you two were friends?"

I sighed "So did I!"

"Look Red, it isn't the end of the world! You must have something you can do to pass the time?"

"Not really"

"What about your other friends?"

"Neville and Luna are acting all lovey dovey, so I always feel like a third wheel with them, and I can't hang around with Hermione and Harry and Ron, cos even without Hermione being bossy and annoying, I can't stand being around Harry. I just, I like him so much, and I wish he would see me as more than just his best friends little sister, but he won't so I'm just trying to avoid him to make it easier, although it really isn't helping much, and just, I was going to spend this weekend practicing quidditch , but Hermione has banned me so I don't know what to do and I just I can't-"

I stopped myself. Why did I just tell all of that to none other than Blaise Zabini? I must be going insane,

"Ok, well I'll be more careful next time I ask someone's what's wrong...I didn't realise that translated as, tell me your life story?" He smirked

"I'm sorry! I don't know why I told you all that!" I choked back the tears that were the eating to come again, he looked at me with a peculiar look on his face.

"Oh, don't be so ridiculous, you needed to get that out. You've clearly been holding that in for way too long! So I can't help you with getting Potter, but this Saturday, I was going to go to hogsmead with Draco and Pansy, but they too are acting all 'lovey dovey' as you put it, so I'll go with you. Don't debate that. It wasn't a question. Now come on Weaslette, dry your face and go back to Gryffindor and show Hermione how tough you are!" He grinned and pulled me up, and pushed me in the direction of Gryffindor, before he turned away though, he smiled and winked and then walked off.