Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. As I've often said before, if I did then Draco and Ginny would have ended up together and Blaise would have played a bigger part. Sadly, I do not own it and this is not true. So, I turn instead to fanfiction.

Well, the idea for this story came to me one day at work and it wouldn't be denied. It was hard to get started but with the help of two lovely ladies, JLeep and Dragoness1400 this chapter was born! I hope you all enjoy it. I plan on keeping up with this story as devotedly as I do my other story Yet He Did. I hope you all enjoy this!

Without further ado…

Chapter 1

Draco POV

Three months was really not such a long time if one thinks about it but, at the same time, so much could change in that short period. One such thing, so apt to change over the course of the summer break, were the girls of Hogwarts. For many, those three months away did them wonders. Girls that, when they left, were just simply young girls but upon returning were well on their way into womanhood.

"Look at Susan Bones," Blaise said quietly in my ear, nodding his head towards the Hufflepuff a couple tables away. "Finally filled out it would seem. Not too bad."

I nodded my accent, agreeing with my friend's assessment of the girl. "Yes, quite nice. Too bad she's a Hufflepuff," I said, gazing around the room. My eyes fell on a fourth year girl further down the Slytherin table. "Look at Olivia Shardlow. She's grown up nicely."

"Hmm, yes she has," he agree, gazing down the table. I could see interest spark in his eyes as a grin flitted across his face. The girl in question seemed to sense his gaze upon her and when she looked up Blaise gave her a cheeky grin and a wink, making her cheeks flush. "Quite nice."

For the past few years, each welcome feast Blaise and I would scout out the girls that were worth our while. As had become tradition, we would each chose one to seduce before the end of the year. The bet had become quite the competition between the two of us, each seeing who would succeed first. It was a good distraction from the stresses of school. I, of course, had been victorious each time thus far.

"Looks like Tracy Davis has filled out too," Blaise said after a moment, gesturing discreetly to the Slytherin girl in our year close by.

I glance down at her, nodding my head. "Yes, quite a bit," I agreed. "It also seems she started taking a potion to ride herself of those unsightly pimples too." Yes, Tracy Davis was looking very good. I silently added her to my maybe list. "How about Kim Sheringham? She lost some weight over the summer," I pointed out, nodding towards the fifth year Ravenclaw nearby.

"She's looking quite nice," agreed Blaise, winking at the girl who seemed to have noticed our attention. She simply rolled her eyes and turned back to her food. "She'd be a challenge."

"You'd never be able to get her away from her studies," I said with a snort of quiet laugher at her obvious rejection of Blaise's interest.

He frowned in her direction, the wheels in his head turning. Finally, he just shrugged. "She's got hardly and curves anyhow," he said with a shrug. "How about Weasley over there?" He nodded his head suddenly towards the redhead at the Gryffindor table. "Looking good."

I turned and glanced at the table in question and let my gaze fall on the brutish redhead sitting next to Potter. "Hmm, I didn't know you went that way. You know, I always though you preferred women. Is that why I always win our bets? Choose him if you wish but, I don't need the details," I said with a lilting tease.

He shook his head as his gaze fell on the older Weasley and he shuttered. "Not him you bloody idiot!" Blaise said with exasperation, grinning all the same. "Her, the little She-Weasel." He turned his gaze to the Weasley in question. "She sure grew up over the summer. Finally has curves. Actually, she really is hot."

I rolled my eyes, not even bothering to look over at the blood traitor. "She's a Gryffindor," I pointed out with a shake of my head. "And a blood traitor Weasley to boot."

"But she's still hot," Blaise said with a shrug. "I'd have a go at her. She's never go for it though."

I let out a sigh and shook my head. "Blaise, every girl is seducible, given time," I said, finally giving into my curiosity and glancing over at the youngest Weasley. Blaise had been right, much to my horror, the little weasel sure had grown up over the summer. She'd gotten curves in all the right places and her red hair, tumbling down well past her shoulders, didn't seem as ghastly as before. In her fifth year, she's begun to lose the childish appearance of some younger students. Yes, the summer had done her well. She was still a Weasley though.

"Fine, I'll give it to you, she did get attractive," I agreed reluctantly. "But, like I said, she's not worth the time."

Blaise let out a laugh and smirked at me. "You're just afraid you'd lose our bet," he teased, raising an eyebrow at me, as if daring me to argue.

I rolled my eyes at him. "I've never failed before. I just don't wish to stoop that low so as to touch a Weasley," I countered hauntingly, turning my attention to the food at hand rather than the fairly annoying conversation.

"You couldn't seduce the little Gryffindor even if you tried anyway," Blaise said offhandedly, though the challenge was lurking under the surface. He eyed me with a grin.

"I could and I will," I said, almost immediately regretting my words but not willing to take them back. "I'll have her in my bed before the end of term." And there I went, putting my foot in my mouth again as I cut my time in half as pride got the better of me. How was I going to seduce the Weasley by Christmas Break? Looking over at her, my mind flitted through my usual tactics and I knew I have to get her to not hate me first. As if feeling my eyes on her, she turned and her chocolate brown eyes met mine. If looks could kill, I'd be dead where I sat. Yes, I had my work cut out for me.

"Alright," Blaise said, giving me a satisfied grin, having used my own stubbornness against me. I wouldn't let him win though, no the bet was on and I planned to win. "But when you fail, she's mine."

"I won't fail. Make your own pick," I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

He simply chuckled at my reaction before gazing around the room, eyes falling on the girls we'd been discussing. "Why don't I make it fairer to you? I'll choose a hard one. I could have Olivia in my bed in a week if I wanted. I'll choose Sheringham." He glanced at the Ravenclaw table once more to the dark haired girl who had so obviously shot down his interest earlier. At least she didn't hate him, not yet at anyway. I'd have many more hurtles to overcome to seduce the little Weasley. I'd win our bet though. I always did.

"Hey mate," Blaise said, drawing my attention back to him. "Do you even know the little Weasley's first name?"

How to Seduce a Weasley: Step One – Learn the Weasley's name.

Ginny POV

I could feel his eyes on me again. In the past few days since the start of term it seemed like I couldn't get away from those prying steely gray eyes. Why Draco Malfoy was suddenly staring at me all the time now, I wasn't sure. It was unsettling though, to say the least. First time I'd notice was at the welcome feast the first night back. Then the next morning at breakfast, then in the library doing my homework after the first day of class and then out by the lake as I enjoyed the last of the summer weather.

Now it was Tuesday and I was scheduled for a class that before I had not been dreading nearly as much as I did now. My first class of the day was double advanced Potions with the Slytherins. Professor McGonagall had offered last year for me to study on my own and take my Potion's owl early, allowing me into a more advanced class this year. I took it at the end of last term and had ended up getting an O, a better grade than Ron and Harry both. With that, McGonagall had decided to put me into potion's class of the students the year above me.

"Come on Ginny," I heard Ron say, pulling me out of my thoughts as I had been staring down at my uneaten breakfast. "We'll be late for potions if you don't hurry and eat."

Looking over at my brother, I noticed his finished plate. He, Harry and Hermione were waiting patiently for me, seeing as we were heading to the same class after breakfast. I sighed and looked back at my plate. "You guys go ahead, I'll be along in a minute," I offered, not wanting them to be late on my accord. Of course, I didn't plan on being late, but I did need to eat something first. Picking up my toast, I began to nibble on it.

"Well, I guess we'll see you in class then," Hermione said as the three of them stood up. "Though Snape isn't the potions teacher this year it still wouldn't be good to show up late. I'm sure Professor Slughorn wouldn't take lightly to it either. We don't need to loose points first class back so don't be late."

"I won't," I assured her, making myself take a larger bit of my toast as if to emphasize my words. "I'll just eat really quite. I'll be right behind you, I swear."

The three of them nodded their accent and headed out, leaving me to my breakfast. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Draco Malfoy stood with one of his friends and headed out of the hall. I sighed and took a bite of eggs. I'd have to endure two hours with him and all his Slytherin cronies twice a week for the entire year. I was beginning to wonder at my sanity at agreeing to this new arrangement.

By the time I finished with my breakfast the Great Hall was nearly empty, just the few last stragglers like myself. Finishing off my pumpkin juice, I grabbed my bag and headed towards the dungeons. I'd taken longer than planned and, when I finally arrived at the potions classroom, I was almost late. I slipped in just moments before the start of class. Looking around, I spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione taking up one table. It would seem I was the last to arrive as everyone else was already seated in threes around the room. All, that was, accept two. Of all the rotten luck.

Seeing my only option, Harry gave me a sympathetic glance but not he nor Ron or Hermione made any move to trade places with me. Letting out an irritated sigh, I stalked over and sat down at the only available stool right smack dab between none other than Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini. I swear it was almost like they'd planned it. Oh great, they had it in for me. This was going to be miserable. And to think, I usually enjoy Potions.

I ignored the two boys best I could as I pulled out my potions book, trying very hard not to focus on the close proximity. I could feel his eyes on me again though, those unsettling gray eyes. And now it was worse as I found myself also surrounded by an incredibly tantalizing masculine scent. I hated him all the more for it. I shot each of them a glare for good measure. They took my glare in stride, both of them lounging on either side of me with smug smiles. Thankfully, the door of the classroom opened about then and in walked a portly old man.

"For those of you who don't know already I am Professor Slughorn," he said, giving us all a cheerful smile. He was of a much better disposition than Professor Snape ever was and I began to have hope that this year might not be so bad after all. "I'd like all of you to look to the other two people at your table. Better learn to get along with them very well because they will be your partners for the rest of the year." And just like that, my hope was dashed. This day couldn't get any worse.

But, I was wrong, so very wrong. Yes, yes it could get worse. As Professor Slughorn was introducing the three potions he'd set up at the front of the room, we were all allowed a closer look. The favorite for most everyone was the love potion as everyone wanted to know what three things they would smell, their three most desirable scents.

I myself had begun to smile at the prospect of it and, when I finally got to the potion myself, eagerly sniffed the amazing smells wafting from the cauldron. The first I noticed was the strongest, the hard to grasp smell of the warm summer breeze that hits your face when you fly. Then there was the smell of Mum's fresh baked bread. And last, almost hardly noticeable, was the same overwhelmingly masculine scent I'd been trying so hard to ignore just moments before. So yes, my day got just that much worse.

Taking my seat again, I frowned down at my book, trying again to ignore that scent that was Draco Malfoy. "What's the matter, Red?" I heard Zabini say from beside me, his tone light and joking, much different than I'd expected. I'd never really talked to him before though. And I didn't plan on getting all chummy with him now. No, I might be stuck with him and Malfoy as partners for the rest of the year but I'd keep them at arm's length.

"My name is not Red," I said without looking over at him.

"But it fits," Malfoy chimed in from my other side, making me scowl deeper.

I let out a deep sigh and turned my attention back to Professor Slughorn as he introduce the potion we'd be making today, the Draught of Living Death. It was the most powerful sleeping potion known to wizard kind. Just one drop from a properly made potion would send the drinker into a death like slumber. It was possibly the most complicated potion I'd ever done before. Shutting the two boys at my table out of my mind, I set about the task of making the potion instructed.

"Weasley, pass me the sloth brain," I heard Malfoy order me, drawing my attention from my potion after about an hour.

"Get it yourself," I said, not even bothering to look over at him as I stirred my potion the correct number of times, watching as it turned to a black, current-color, indicating it was right so far at the halfway stage. I let out a deep sigh of relief. This really was a complicated potion and I didn't want anyone to think I was in the advanced class by mistake.

"Not very polite, are you?" he asked with a roll of his eyes as he reached across me, grabbing the aforementioned sloth brain.

"Care to keep in your own space?" I sighed irritated as I slapped his hand away from me.

"It's not my fault you wouldn't pass it to me!" he exclaimed as I glared up at him, his usually alabaster cheeks turning a bit pink as he returned a scowl.

Wanting to end the conversation on my own terms, I let couldn't help but show off my superior potions abilities. "You're potion is supposed to be black, not green," I said with a huff, dismissing him as I turned back to my own potion, getting back to work as I turned the fire down to keep the potion from scorching to the bottom. The last thing I needed was to have to buy a new cauldron because Draco Malfoy distracted me.

"Hey, love, pass me the valerian roots would you?" Zabini said from my other side, again pulling my focus from my potion. I wanted to scream in frustration as the two refused to let me work.

"Do not call me love," I said through my teeth. "And get the roots yourself. But if you reach across me like you're git of a friend over here," Malfoy made a sound of protest at my description of him, "then I will have more than half a mind to hex your hand off."

He charmed the roots to fly to his hand, one of them almost hitting me in the face. I closed eyes and took a deep, calming breath before trying to focus on my potion again. Sadly, it would see these two boys really did have it out for me.

"So I can't call you Red and I can't call you love," Zabini drawled from my right. "I'm guessing you'd say no to She-Weasel and little Weasley too. Then what am I supposed to call you?"

"How about my name?" I said with a sigh, adding two pinches of wormwood to the cauldron and stirring it.

"Which is what exactly?" Malfoy asked from my left.

I chose not to answer, disbelieving that they really didn't know it. Honestly, Malfoy had been teasing and mocking me for the past five years and he didn't even know my name? For some reason, it hurt about as bad as his jabs at me and my family. The git.

By now my potion had taken on the desired lilac color that began to lighten with ever stir of the potion. After seven stirs counter-clockwise, the potion turned clear as water, indicating it was done. I smiled in satisfaction, glancing at the other two cauldrons on the table. Zabini's potion was a dismal blue color, indicating he'd likely put the wrong amount of wormwood into the cauldron at some point. Malfoy's on the other hand was clear with just a tint of lilac. It was almost right.

After receiving a fair bit of praise from Professor Slughorn, making me smile for the first time in nearly two hours, we were all instructed to bottle our potion and dispose of the rest. Pulling out a vial, I filled it with the sleeping draught and put a stopper in it. With a flick of my wand, the rest of the potion was cleared and the cauldron clean. Another quick charm sent the cauldron to the cupboard where my potion ingredients were kept. Slinging my bag on my shoulder, I walked up to Professor Slughorn's desk and dropped off my vial.

I could hear Harry, Ron and Hermione out in the hallway waiting for me and I hurried to catch up with them. Before I made it to the door though, a hand on my arm stopped me in my tracks. "Yes?" I asked, turning around to meet the silvery gaze of Draco Malfoy.

"Well, seeing as we're to be potion's partners, don't you think it would be best if you at least told me your name?" he asked in a too innocent voice.

Slapping his hand off my arm I rolled my eyes at him. "Malfoy, you've known me for five years now. If you don't know my name already then it's your own fault. I'm not telling you. Now, I understand we're going to be partners for the rest of the year but I don't, nor will I ever, like it. It's all rotten luck for showing up almost late. I didn't ask for this. I'd have sat with Crabb and Goyle over you and Zabini." With that, I turned on my heel and headed out, leaving a frustrated Malfoy and a laughing Zabini in my wake.

Well, how was that? A good start? I hope you all like it as much as I do. It was so fun to write it! It's gonna be such a fun story to write. Let me know what you think about it! If I get a good response I'll post another chapter soon! Do you guys want a chapter 2?

Now, this is just the beginning and I have lots of plans for this story. It's gonna be pretty epic. If you like it, let me know. If nobody really likes it, I won't put the effort into it and instead will focus it on other stories. Let me know if you like it!

A happy author writes better and faster! So review and make me happy!